Psychopathological Profiles in Members and Former Members of Abusive Groups: A Clinical Case–Control Study

Abusive groups (AGs) often rely on coercive strategies that gradually undermine members’ psychological well-being. Research has documented negative consequences for former members, but only a few studies have used standardized assessments with clinical populations who are actively seeking help. Psychopathological symptoms and self-esteem in individuals currently or recently involved in AGs were examined, using a clinically validated case–control design. Participants were recruited from a specialized mental health service, where they underwent structured clinical interviews and completed standardized self-report measures. The total sample comprised 71 participants (57.7% women), with a mean age of 36.4 years (SD = 13.7). The sample included 41 AG members and 30 matched controls from the general population. Their profiles were compared with those of the matched control group from the general population. Assessment tools included the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Group Psychological Abuse Scale (GPA-S). The AG group reported higher levels of psychological distress across all SCL-90-R domains, with particularly pronounced differences in depression, interpersonal sensitivity, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. Self-esteem was also markedly lower. Longer exposure to the group predicted higher psychoticism scores, pointing to a possible dose–response relationship. Taken together, these results strengthen previous evidence of the psychological harm associated with AGs, while extending it by including clinically assessed individuals who were either still involved or had recently left. The findings underscore the need for systematic clinical screening, specialized treatment strategies, and broader public awareness of the risks posed by coercive group environments.