Childhood sexual abuse precipitating maternal hospitalization

CHILD ABUSE often occurs in families with multiple and frequent stresses [1]. Disclosure of the abuse and the resulting therapeutic interventions may increase the stresses on family members and the family structure [2, 3], Some parents express greater concern about the disruption of their own lives caused by sexual abuse than they express for the victimized child [4, 5,]. Under such circumstances, the child may be deprived of the support needed to cope with the traumatic experience.This paper provides three case reports of unusual examples of family disruption following childhood sexual abuse. In each case the mother's hospitalization was precipitated by the disclosure and investigation of the child's sexual assault complaint.