Global, regional, and national burden of major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder attributed to childhood sexual abuse in 204 countries and territories, 1999-2019: An analysis for the global burden of disease study 2019.

AIM

This study aims to elucidate the impact of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) globally, regionally, and nationally, informing targeted public health interventions and policy.

METHODS

Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019, we assessed the impact of CSA on MDD and AUD, analyzing disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 population. Our analysis included age, sex, geographic locations, temporal trends in age-standardized rates (ASR), and examined the relationship between the social development index (SDI) and the burden of these disorders.

RESULTS

From 1990 to 2019, the global ASR for MDD attributable to CSA increased by 1.9 %, while AUD decreased by 17.1 %. Significant gender disparities emerged, with females showing higher ASRs for MDD and males for AUD. The highest burden was observed in the 35-44 age group. Geographical analysis revealed the highest ASRs for MDD in Sub-Saharan Africa and for AUD in Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and High-income North America. A U-shaped relationship between SDI and disorder burdens was also identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate a slight increase in MDD and a significant decrease in AUD burdens globally due to CSA, underscoring the need for targeted interventions considering gender, geographical, and developmental differences. This calls for strategies tailored to each country's unique development, culture, and regional specifics.