OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between sexual abuse in
childhood and adult depression in women. DESIGN: Two stage, case
detection and case identification design, using the 30-item general
health questionnaire and the Beck depression inventory for screening
and the affective items relating to current functioning on the
schizophrenia and affective disorders schedule to identify depressed
cases. Details of sexual abuse in childhood were elicited
retrospectively by semistructured interview, and social problems by
the social problems questionnaire. SETTING: Three general practices,
in middle class suburban, deprived inner city, and rural
areas. SUBJECTS: 1189 women were screened and 237 subsequently
interviewed; 132 were depressed. RESULTS: 49 (37%) of the depressed
interviews and 24 (23%) of the non-depressed interviews reported
experience of sexual abuse when they were aged under 16 years. A
positive association existed between the more severe abuse and
depression--all those who had experienced penetration were depressed
as adults. A relation was also found between sexual abuse in childhood
and sexual problems, housing problems, and problems with their
children at school. CONCLUSION: A positive association between child
sexual abuse and depression was confirmed, but this was confined to
more severe abuse (penetration or attempted penetration).