Neuroendocrine dysregulations in sexually abused children and adolescents: a systematic review.

Several studies provided evidence for neuroendocrine dysregulations in adults with a history of child sexual abuse. This review focuses on neuroendocrine studies in sexually abused children and adolescents, dating from January 1, 1990 to January 1, 2007 and obtained from a systematic Medline Indexed literature search to identify endocrine correlates of child sexual abuse. Results from studies on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (re)activity showed to be inconclusive. Studies on the sympathetic nervous system provided evidence for a higher baseline activity of this system in sexually abused children and adolescents. Factors contributing to divergent outcomes will be discussed and suggestions for future research will be presented.