A CASE OF FALSE ALLEGATION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

위(僞) 소아성학대 보고 1예

When children exhibit unusually intense or persistent sexual interests or behavior, this is an indication that they have been exposed to more than the expectable amount of sexual experience, Although sexualized behavior and/or statement is a symptom of sexual abuse, it is not necessarily an indication of sexual abuse. The possibility of false allegation needs to be considered, particularly if allegations are coming from the parent rather than a child, if parents are engaged in dispute over custody or visitation, and/or if the child is a preschooler. False allegations may arise in other situations as well, such as the misinterpretation of a child's statement or behavior by relative or caretakers. And children may make false statement in psychiatric evaluations. A case of false allegation of sexual abuse made by mentally retarded 10 year-old girl who has been located in an institute is presented. During her evaluation process, it was clinician's diagnostic impression that she had no been sexually abused but sexually stimulated in some way, and most of what she said was a fantasy lie. Its pathological mechanism is discussed in terms of pseudologia fantastica along with the review of literatures.

성학대보고가 부모로부터 먼저 나왔을 경우, 부모가 양육권이나 면접권과 연관된 분쟁중에 보고되었을 경우 및 아동이 학령전 아동일 경우, 정신감정자는 위(僞) 성학대를 일단 의심하여야 한다고 한다. 저자는, 보육원에 수용된 10세 여아로서 경도의 정신지체를 보이고 있고 자발적으로 성학대보고를 한 환아의 정신감정을 하는 과정중에 위 성학대보고라고 판단된 환아 1예를 보고하고자 한다. 환아의 거짓보고에 대한 병리적 기전에 대한 고찰과 함께 이와 연관된 문헌고찰을 하였다.