RT Journal
A1 ORR DP
T1 INcest
JF American Journal of Diseases of Children
JO American Journal of Diseases of Children
YR 1979
FD March 1
VO 133
IS 3
SP 331
OP 331
DO 10.1001/archpedi.1979.02130030107021
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1979.02130030107021
AB Sir.—The article on incest by Weitzel et al (132:127-130) and the editorial comment by Weiner (132:123) in the February 1978 issue of the Journal are welcome additions to the scanty and perplexing literature on child sexual abuse. I agree that "knee jerk responses" may be detrimental, ie, immediate removal of the child. The symptom of incest warrants careful evaluation and planning. The authors clearly pointed out that the studies used to support allegations that sexual abuse of children is damaging are biased and select for children already identified as disturbed. However, the data used to support the contention that sexual abuse may not be harmful are equally misleading1,2; both studies deal with an inpatient psychiatric population. Those authors' perceptions of the severity of damage seem open to question.At this point, we honestly don't know what the acute and long-term effects of child sexual abuse are, and until