About this Research Topic
Child Sexual abuse (CSA) is a major public health issue worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 20 % of women and almost 8% of men have experienced CSA. Among psychiatric patients, the prevalence increases compared to the general population. CSA Survivors have an increased risk of developing somatic and psychiatric disorders (i.e. PTSD, anxiety, eating and sleep disorders) during their lifetime.
Child and adolescent psychiatrists (and other mental health professionals) face many challenges when dealing with CSA: investigation, disclosure, forensic aspects, confidentiality, consent & discernment issue, revictimization process, family issues, treatment, stigma, social impact and so on. Due to the complexity of this issue, their work should be better informed by further, innovative research on the subject.
Recently, new research – (i.e. on first person accounts, inter-disciplinary approach, social neurosciences) - has been developed in the field that could address CSA at many different levels: individual (clinical, infra-clinical, psychopathology, phenomenology), relational (peers role, CSA within a romantic relationships), familiar (especially in the context of incest, with a specific question regarding the non-perpetrator parent), socio-cultural (social media, stigma), and forensic (communication with justice and child protective services).
In order to improve and deepen the understanding of CSA in all the aspects mentioned above, research directly involving the stakeholders (survivors, peers, family, healthcare professionals) and research in the naturalistic setting are especially needed.
This Research Topic aims at addressing both clinical and theoretical aspects regarding CSA and its challenges in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
We encourage Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Perspective, Case Report and Study protocols on (but not limited to) the following topics:
• Mixed-method and qualitative research exploring the lived experience of the stakeholders in cases of CSA;
• Effective Prevention in CSA;
• Perspectives regarding consent and discernment;
• CSA disclosure and investigation;
• Treatment and management strategies and outcomes;
• Family studies, especially in the context of incest and domestic violence;
• Forensic and social aspects: relationships with society, justice, social media, child protection services.
Child and adolescent psychiatrists (and other mental health professionals) face many challenges when dealing with CSA: investigation, disclosure, forensic aspects, confidentiality, consent & discernment issue, revictimization process, family issues, treatment, stigma, social impact and so on. Due to the complexity of this issue, their work should be better informed by further, innovative research on the subject.
Recently, new research – (i.e. on first person accounts, inter-disciplinary approach, social neurosciences) - has been developed in the field that could address CSA at many different levels: individual (clinical, infra-clinical, psychopathology, phenomenology), relational (peers role, CSA within a romantic relationships), familiar (especially in the context of incest, with a specific question regarding the non-perpetrator parent), socio-cultural (social media, stigma), and forensic (communication with justice and child protective services).
In order to improve and deepen the understanding of CSA in all the aspects mentioned above, research directly involving the stakeholders (survivors, peers, family, healthcare professionals) and research in the naturalistic setting are especially needed.
This Research Topic aims at addressing both clinical and theoretical aspects regarding CSA and its challenges in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
We encourage Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Perspective, Case Report and Study protocols on (but not limited to) the following topics:
• Mixed-method and qualitative research exploring the lived experience of the stakeholders in cases of CSA;
• Effective Prevention in CSA;
• Perspectives regarding consent and discernment;
• CSA disclosure and investigation;
• Treatment and management strategies and outcomes;
• Family studies, especially in the context of incest and domestic violence;
• Forensic and social aspects: relationships with society, justice, social media, child protection services.
Keywords: child sexual abuse, CSA, violence, disclosure, prevention
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
