One problem with listing the physical and mental health effects of sexual abuse is that they are often indirect, experts say. That is, the health problems are caused by something that is caused by the abuse. Also, some effects can take years to emerge.

Victims of sexual abuse have a 50 percent chance of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, according to Paula Schnurr, deputy executive director of the National Center for PTSD in White River Junction. The condition can lead to serious health problems and even suicide.

Here is a list of direct and indirect effects of sexual abuse, not intended to be comprehensive, that show up in studies by California physician and researcher Vincent Felitti and others who've done research on sexual abuse victims.
• Long-term alcohol and drug abuse.
• Eating disorders.
• Chronic anger/hostility, which also have been linked with such disorders as heart disease.
• Depression, anxiety and fear. Studies have linked a history of even moderate depression with a higher incidence of several physical disorders.
• Physical pain. Called "somatization," this refers to significant pain in muscles, joints or organ systems that has no identifiable medical cause and is linked to psychological trauma.
• Revictimization. This refers to the increased chance that someone abused as a child will be sexually and/or physically abused at a later time. Childhood abuse victims often end up in abusive marriages, for instance.
• Self-destructive behavior. This overlaps with other items on the list, but can specifically involve such behavior as teen promiscuity and experimentation with drugs and alcohol at a young age. One federal report noted an increased likelihood of unwanted first pregnancies among abuse victims.
• Problems with physical intimacy. Sexual functioning is often affected in abuse victims, Schnurr said.

— Steve Gordon