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Trauma-Related Disorders: Sexual Abuse and Psychiatric Comorbidities

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Sexual Dysfunctions in Mentally Ill Patients

Part of the book series: Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine ((TASM))

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Abstract

Trauma occurs when a subject happens to be exposed to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence; historical studies raised much interest on the persistent role of past traumatic experiences on people’s current lives. Confrontation with trauma results in the release of important neurochemical factors, capable of compromising subjective integrative capacity and the ordinary process of neurodevelopment. DSM-5 classifies trauma- and stressor-related disorders in a specific chapter that includes the reactive attachment disorder, the disinhibited social engagement disorder, acute stress disorder, the adjustment disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Numerous studies have, moreover, demonstrated the existence of a substantial association between childhood trauma and dissociation. In humans, in fact, two different reaction mechanisms are possible when facing danger: the hyperarousal pathway and the dissociation pathway. Many authors suggested that dissociative symptoms have, in these cases, a specific role of defense. Among personality disorders, borderline personality disorder, mainly characterized by a recurring pattern of instability in relationships, affectivity, and behavior, is a particularly common diagnosis among victims of childhood sexual trauma. The objective of this chapter is to address some of the possible psychological and physical consequences of exposure to violence and traumatic events.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Cinzia Niolu, Giulia Lisi & Alberto Siracusano

  2. Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Cinzia Niolu & Alberto Siracusano

Authors
  1. Cinzia Niolu
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  2. Giulia Lisi
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  3. Alberto Siracusano
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Correspondence to Cinzia Niolu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Emmanuele A. Jannini

  2. Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Alberto Siracusano

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Niolu, C., Lisi, G., Siracusano, A. (2018). Trauma-Related Disorders: Sexual Abuse and Psychiatric Comorbidities. In: Jannini, E., Siracusano, A. (eds) Sexual Dysfunctions in Mentally Ill Patients. Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68306-5_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68306-5_13

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