Enduring Scars: A Comprehensive Review Of The Long-Term Psychological, Social, And Physical Effects Of Child Maltreatment

The aim of this literature review was to examine the relationship between individuals who experienced childhood abuse and the likelihood of developing a mental health disorder later in life. By analyzing an assortment of peer-reviewed journal articles and studies that geared towards the effects of childhood maltreatment, it uncovered how there is a correlation with long-term mental health disorders emerging in individuals who fell victim to childhood abuse. Key findings entail how childhood sexual, physical, psychological, and emotional abuse are linked to an increased likelihood of developing disorders such as phobias, OCD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, PTSD, and more. It was also observed how there were physical health symptoms interconnected with the mental being of the individual including cardiovascular disease, asthma, chronic pain, systemic lupus erythematosus, and others. Another main finding was the kinds of treatment options for people suffering due to the abuse. Successful treatment options were trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, brief eclectic psychotherapy, eye movement desensitization, and self-compassion therapy, but there is no specific evidence that informs which interventions are the better choice.