Prevalence of Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse in Veterans With Psychiatric Diagnoses

Researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of 603 consecutive psychiatric inpatients at one Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital to assess the prevalence of reported childhood physical and sexual abuse. The prevalence of reported childhood physical or sexual abuse was 19%. Researchers compared the rates of abuse with psychiatric diagnoses. More patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reported physical and sexual abuse than did those without PTSD.