142 Does Sexual Abuse have a Different Effect Depending on the Sexual Orientation?

Abstract

Objective: Assessed the effect that sexual abuse have in regards to sexual orientation. Material and Method: Participants that took a paid, online, Depression and Anxiety Assessment Test from 2015 to 2017 were included in the study. Participants answered a 93 question questionnaire that was available in Spanish and English, people from 4 continents were represented. The questionnaire reported level of depression, anxiety and emotional intelligence. The questions asked about patient history, sexual orientation and history of sexual abuse. Depression level is based on DSM-5 [The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Volume 5] criteria. The depression was classified according to DSM-5 into 4 categories as none (0-6), mild (7-10), moderate (11-19) or severe (20 or more). Results: A total of 2004 participants were included, 119 were eliminated due to incomplete answers in the questionnaire. Results are reported as (n with that sexual that orientation, % that suffered sexual abused from that group, mean depression of those abused, depression SD of those abuse, mean depression of those NOT): Heterosexual (1808, 26.3, 11.8, 7.9, 9, 7.8), bisexual (37, 45.9, 15.8, 6.4, 15.8, 6.4), homosexual/lesbian (14, 42.8, 17.7, 5, 11.8, 8.2), unsure about sexual orientation (26, 34, 17.7, 8.4, 12.1, 8.1). No one reported being a transsexual. Conclusions: Sexual abuse did increase the level of depression regardless of sexual orientation, but some sexual orientations seem to have a more affected by the abuse. Strategies to prevent sexual abuse should be studied and implemented as it seem it triggers a more severe depression.