ABSTRACT
The most egregious forms of negative touch are childhood physical and sexual abuse, both of which disrupt biochemical functioning, arouse deeply troublesome feelings (fear, sadness, anger, shame...), and can cause deleterious alterations in brain structure.
Compared with the non-abused population, abuse survivors are more likely to suffer mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, panic, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidality, externalising disorders, borderline personality disorder and psychiatric disorders such as obsessions, compulsions, hallucinations, delusions, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In addition they are more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol and drugs, struggle with eating disorders and obesity, engage in risky sexual behaviours (which increase the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases), and be ‘revictimised’, that is, to be abused again as adults.
Abuse survivors are also more likely to suffer physical ill health, such as heart, lung or liver disease; gastrointestinal disorders; cancer; and chronic pain.
The social effects of child abuse are far-reaching — survivors have a higher probability than non-abused individuals of being unemployed, engaging in prostitution, committing crimes and abusing their own children.
The effects of childhood abuse can last throughout life.
