title: [Chronic health problems after rape].
abstract: A questionnaire examination was conducted of a sample of 168 well-educated women who suffered rape on average 13 years ago. A retrospective survey was made of acute and chronic symptoms. Physical symptoms were reported by 44% of the sample, mental symptoms by 98% and social symptoms by 79%. 11% have attempted suicide, and 19% report excessive use of alcohol and/or medicines. The symptoms are of a category which, when presented to doctors, might be diagnosed as "unspecified symptoms". Only 17 women (10%) sought treatment immediately after the rape. Half of these were referred by the police. Three of these women felt that their needs were met by the health services. As a result of their experience of untreated rape trauma, six out of ten women in the sample would now seek specified treatment if raped again.
authors.affiliation: Almenhelseavdelingen, Akuttetaten, Storgaten, Oslo.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
vernacular_title: Kroniske helseplager efter voldtaegt.