SynthesisFrontiers in pediatrics2026
Childhood sexual abuse in pediatric-onset anorexia Nervosa: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Frontiers in pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a pervasive and underreported form of trauma strongly associated with psychiatric morbidity. While numerous studies in adult populations have demonstrated a significant association between trauma exposure and eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa (AN), limited evidence exists regarding this relationship in the pediatric population. Understanding how CSA relates to early-onset AN is essential for improving diagnostic accuracy and guiding trauma-informed treatment. Aim of the study was to explore the relationship between CSA and the onset of anorexia nervosa in individuals under 18 years of age, providing a more comprehensive assessment of trauma exposure as a contributing factor to AN development. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed and Embase were searched for studies including empirical data, participants under age 18, and assessed sexual abuse in relation to AN. Data were extracted from eligible studies and synthesized narratively. Results: Across multiple clinical and questionnaire-based studies, adolescents with AN exhibited notably higher rates of CSA compared to peers without eating disorders. CSA was associated with depressive symptoms, emotional dysregulation, impaired self-esteem, fear of life, and relational difficulties. Evidence also indicated subtype differences, with binge-eating/purging AN showing stronger association with CSA than restrictive AN. The relationship between CSA and AN appears mediated by emotional and interpersonal factors rather than being directly causal. Conclusions: CSA contributes significantly to psychological vulnerability in adolescents with AN. Trauma exposure influences mood, relational functioning, and coping mechanisms, all of which shape AN onset and severity. Systematic trauma assessment should be integrated into pediatric eating disorder evaluations, and treatment should incorporate trauma-informed and emotion-focused interventions to support holistic recovery.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.