Attention Changes and Victimization in a Sample of Adolescents Victims of Domestic Violence

Objective: To report attention changes in a sample of adolescents victims of domestic violence and discuss how this change may be related to an addictive and complex cycle of victimization and abuse. Methods: 78 adolescents went through psychiatric and neuropsychological evaluation. The Kiddie-Sads-Present and Lifetime Version and the Brazilian version of the Childhood Trauma Questionaire (CTQ) were applied. The neuropsychological assessment was conducted by trained professionals using the Wechsler Children’s Global Assessment Scale, 3rd edition-WlSC III. The sample was divided into 3 groups according to the intensity of the reported maltreatment-obtained by the CTQ score (comparison group, moderate degree of abuse and severe maltreatment). Results: The group that showed moderate maltreatment showed better performance in an attention task compared to the comparison group. At the severe maltreatment group, this difference was not observed. Conclusions: Children and adolescents who are victims of maltreatment are more alert to environmental details that surround them as a form of adaptation to defend themselves against potential threats. However, they could react precipitously with inappropriate behavior in some contexts. This can lead to a favorable environment for new and repeated situations of violence, abuse and a perpetuation of this victimization.