Abstract
This study piloted a clinical assessment protocol for female survivors of sexual assault and describes psychological symptomatology including post-traumatic stress disorder in this population. The assessment protocol includes a semi-structured interview about the circumstances of the sexual assault and standard measures of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. 19 women attending a specialist sexual assault service within the Genitourinary Medicine clinic were interviewed within one year post-rape (mean= 13 weeks). Qualitative and quantitative data was collected All women met a legal definition of rape and 14 women had varying degrees of prior contact with their assailant. 11 women reported the rape to the police and the assailant was in custody in only two of these cases. Eight women reported a prior history of gender violence, eight women reported prior contact with psychiatric services, and eight women reported previous suicide attempts. 17 (89.5%) women met full criteria for a lifetime diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Emotional reactivity, avoiding thoughts, and intrusive thoughts were the most frequently responded to symptoms of PTSD. Intrusion and avoidance scores on the Impact of Event Scale were consistent with those reported in American studies of PTSD post-rape. Anxiety predominated amongst other psychological symptoms and correlated with all PTSD measures. Due to the small sample size nonparametric statistics were used on all analyses of variables associated with psychological response. No association was found between previous victimisation, psychiatric history, HIV testing or being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease and post-rape levels of psychological functioning. The assessment protocol was acceptable to most women. Results are discussed in the context of previous research and clinical implications.