NCJ Number
44707
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THREE DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORIES OF SEXUAL TRAUMA ARE DEVELOPED ON THE BASIS OF INTERVIEWS WITH RAPE VICTIMS TREATED AT BOSTON CITY HOSPITAL.
Abstract
THE VICTIM SAMPLE INCLUDED 143 FEMALES AND 3 MALES. INTERVIEWS COVERED THE DETAILS SURROUNDING THE RAPE INCIDENT, THE VICTIM'S EMOTIONAL REACTION, AND THE VICTIM'S FEELINGS ABOUT THE POLICE AND HOSPITAL PERSONNEL. INTERVIEW DATA WERE USED TO SEPARATE THE CASES INTO CATEGORIES, TO CLUSTER SYMPTOMS, TO CORRELATE INCIDENTS AND SYMPTOMS, AND TO LABEL THREE DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORIES: RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME; ACCESSORY-TO-SEX REACTION; AND SEX-STRESS SITUATION. THE RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME ENCOMPASSES AN ACUTE PHASE OF DISORGANIZATION AND A LONG-TERM PROCESS OF REORGANIZATION. THE ACUTE PHASE INCLUDES MANY PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS, MUSCULAR TENSION, AND SLEEPLESSNESS. THE LONG-TERM PROCESS MAY INVOLVE CHANGING RESIDENCE, SEEKING SUPPORT, AND DEALING WITH NIGHTMARES AND PHOBIAS. SUBCATEGORIES OF THE RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME ARE THE COMPOUNDED REACTION, IN WHICH THE RAPE REACTIVATES SYMPTOMS OF EARLIER CONDITIONS, AND THE SILENT REACTION, IN WHICH THE VICTIM EXHIBITS VARIOUS SYMPTOMS WITHOUT MENTIONING THAT SHE HAS BEEN RAPED. THE ACCESSORY-TO-SEX REACTION INVOLVES VICTIMS WHO HAVE ASSISTED THE OFFENDER IN SOME SUBORDINATE WAY. SUCH VICTIMS USUALLY ARE CHILDREN OR ADOLESCENTS, FOR WHOM TRAUMA OFTEN TAKES THE FORM OF GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL FROM USUAL ACTIVITIES. THE SEX-STRESS SITUATION IS AN ANXIETY REACTION RESULTING FROM CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING SEXUAL ACTIVITY TO WHICH BOTH PARTIES INITIALLY CONSENTED. LEGAL AND OTHER IMPLICATIONS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORIES ARE DISCUSSED BRIEFLY.