NCJ Number
19314
Journal
American Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 131 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1974) Pages: 981-986
Date Published
1974
Length
6 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS FROM INTERVIEW AND FOLLOW-UP OF 146 PATIENTS ADMITTED DURING A ONE-YEAR PERIOD TO THE EMERGENCY WARD OF A CITY HOSPITAL WITH A COMPLAINT OF HAVING BEEN RAPED.
Abstract
BASED UPON AN ANALYSIS OF THE 92 ADULT WOMEN RAPE VICTIMS IN THE SAMPLE, THE AUTHORS DOCUMENT THE EXISTENCE OF A RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME AND DELINEATE ITS SYMPTOMATOLOGY AS WELL AS THAT OF TWO VARIATIONS, COMPOUNDED REACTION AND SILENT REACTION. SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH OF THESE THREE REACTIONS. CRISIS INTERVENTION COUNSELING IS EFFECTIVE WITH TYPICAL RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME; ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL HELP IS NEEDED IN THE CASE OF COMPOUNDED REACTIONS; AND THE SILENT RAPE REACTION MEANS THAT THE CLINICIAN MUST BE ALERT TO INDICATIONS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF RAPE HAVING OCCURRED EVEN WHEN THE PATIENT NEVER MENTIONS SUCH AS AN ATTACK. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)