Cited by 324Child Abuse and TraumaPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchMemory Processes and Influences

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 53 of the 61 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Deficits in short-term memory in adult survivors of childhood abuse

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Abstract

Exposure to stress has been associated with alterations in memory function, and we have previously shown deficits in short-term verbal memory in patients with a history of exposure to the stress of combat and the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Few studies of any kind have focused on adult survivors of childhood physical and sexual abuse. The purpose of this study was to investigate short-term memory function in adult survivors of childhood abuse. Adult survivors of severe childhood physical and sexual abuse (n = 21), as defined by specific criteria derived from the Early Trauma Inventory (ETI), who were presenting for psychiatric treatment were compared with healthy subjects (n = 20) matched for several variables including age, alcohol abuse, and years of education. All subjects were assessed with the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) Logical (verbal memory) and Figural (visual memory) components, the Verbal and Visual Selective Reminding Tests (SRT), and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R). Adult survivors of childhood abuse had significantly lower scores on the WMS Logical component for immediate and delayed recall in comparison to normal subjects, with no difference in visual memory, as measured by the WMS or the SRT, or IQ, as measured by the WAIS-R. Deficits in verbal memory, as measured by the WMS, were associated with the severity of abuse, as measured by a composite score on the ETI. Our findings suggest that childhood physical and sexual abuse is associated with long-term deficits in verbal short-term memory. These findings of specific deficits in verbal (and not visual) memory, with no change in IQ, are similar to the pattern of deficits that we have previously found in patients with combat-related PTSD.

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Show all 61 references

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Briere, 1987, Post-sexual abuse trauma: data and implications for clinical practice, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 367, 10.1177/088626058700200403 · DOI
  2. Bulik, 1989, Childhood sexual abuse in women with bulimia, J Clin Psychiatry, 50, 460
  3. Thygesen, 1970, Concentration camp survivors in Denmark: persecution, disease,compensation, Dan Med Bull, 17, 65

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Items 201–282 of 282

Metadata

Authors
Douglas Bremner, J., Randall, P., Scott, T. M., Capelli, S., Delaney, R., McCarthy, G., & Charney, D. S.
Affiliations
  • Yale University (US)
  • VA Connecticut Healthcare System (US)
Venue
Psychiatry Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1995-11
Volume
59
Issue
1-2
Pages
97-107
ISSN
0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2084057171
Cited by
324
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 10
FWCI
5.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
childhood abuse, child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, short-term memory, verbal memory, visual memory, memory impairment, abuse severity, combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder, stress and memory
MeSH terms
Adult, Child, Child Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Middle Aged, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Personality Inventory, Reference Values, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Verbal Learning, Wechsler Scales

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