Psychopathology after rape.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the psychopathological consequences of a single rape occurring in adult women.


METHODS
The psychiatric symptoms reported by 40 women who were victims of rape during the previous 9 months as decided by a court of law were compared with the symptoms of 32 women who underwent severe, nonsexual, life-threatening events (car accidents, physical attacks, or robberies). None of the raped women had experienced previous sexual abuse during childhood or adolescence.


RESULTS
The raped women showed a significantly greater prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as sexual, eating, and mood disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that the psychopathological consequences of a rape could be specific and may warrant particular attention.
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Florence University Medical School, Italy. carlo.faravelli@unifi.it
Carlo
C
Faravelli
Alice
A
Giugni
Stefano
S
Salvatori
Valdo
V
Ricca
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011902:Rape / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology