Research view
Title: | A comparative study of child abuse in children with disruptive behavior disorders of different socioeconomic classes |
Author: | Soha Ibrahim, Heba Abou El Wafa |
Abstract: |
Introduction
Disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) may be described along a continuum as the emergence
of oppositional defiant disorder, and may be a precursor to conduct disorder. Several
psychosocial factors have been mentioned regarding children with DBD; one of them is child
abuse (CA). However, minimal research has considered the nature of this factor as a cause or a
consequence, and its compound effect on other factors such as the socioeconomic class (SEC).
Aim of the work
This work aimed to compare the effect of CA on the disciplinary style for children with DBD
among different SEC and its relation to DBD severity.
Participants and methods
The study included 80 children, divided into two groups, recruited from government and
private clinical settings, who were subjected to a child psychiatric interview, neurological
and physical examinations, psychometric assessment using the Achenbach Child Behavior
Checklist-Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-oriented scales, CBCL DSM-oriented scales and
SEC assessment.
Results
CA in the form of emotional abuse, physical abuse and/or neglect were found in both the studied
groups among children with DBD, and varied statistically between the two groups for physical
abuse and neglect. Physical abuse and neglect were related significantly to DBD diagnosis,
CBCL mean scores and SEC. Finally, the presence of more than one type of CA in addition
to the SEC was significantly related to CBCL mean scores, suggesting a compound effect of
both child maltreatment and SEC on the severity of DBD in the studied children.
Conclusion
Children with DBD represented a population at risk for CA. CA was related significantly to
lower SEC, symptoms’ severity and the type of DBD. A compound effect was found as children
with more than one type of CA and compromised SEC were predicted to have more severe
symptoms of DBD compared with children with either CA or compromised SEC alone.
Keywords:
Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist-Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-oriented scales,
compound effect, conduct disorder, disruptive behavior disorders, oppositional defiant disorder,
socioeconomic class
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Journal: | Egyptian Journal of Psychiatry 2015, 36:132–138 |
Text: | |
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