Long-term social status and intimate relationship in women with childhood sexual abuse who got outpatient psychotherapy for anxiety disorder and depression.

The aim of this paper was twofold: namely to examine current intimate relationships and social status of women with childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in the long term after outpatient psychotherapy, and to investigate the relative influence of CSA and family background risk factors (FBRF) on the indicators of this status. Fifty-six women with reported CSA and 56 without CSA, who had outpatient psychotherapy for anxiety disorders and/or depression, were personally examined 5 years after termination. Women with CSA had considerably greater sexual and mental health problems, but the same prevalence of partnerships, children and friends as the contrast. No differences were observed as to self-esteem, intimate bonds and physical quality of life. Sexual problems and low education were mainly explained by CSA, other measures by FBRF. Women treated with outpatient psychotherapy for anxiety disorders and depression had moderate problems at long-term follow-up, but more so for those women who had been exposed to CSA.