NCJ Number
127054
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 488-506
Date Published
1990
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the prevalent theories and treatments regarding symptoms which may follow sexual assault.
Abstract
The earliest theory was crisis theory which presumed that homeostasis is disrupted and requires crisis intervention. The crisis theory model is appealing because it does not blame the victim, but it needs more research and does not focus enough on symptoms and diagnosis. The advent of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) theory and cognitive models of symptom development have caused a major shift in the way sexual assault is treated. Almost 60 percent of rape victims suffer from PTSD at some postcrime time in their lives. At 1 week postcrime, the proportion is 95 percent and at 3 months, 50 percent. Systematic desensitization and flooding are among the exposure techniques used to deal with PTSD; coping skills approaches such as stress inoculation and assertion training are also used. Depression and sexual dysfunction are other common posttraumatic symptoms. 86 references (Author abstract modified)