Randomized controlled evaluation of an early intervention to prevent post-rape psychopathology.
A randomized between-group design was used to evaluate the efficacy of a video intervention to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems, implemented prior to the forensic medical examination conducted within 72 h post-sexual assault. Participants were 140 female victims of sexual assault (68 video/72 nonvideo) aged 15 years or older. Assessments were targeted for 6 weeks (Time 1) and 6 months (Time 2) post-assault. At Time 1, the intervention was associated with lower scores on measures of PTSD and depression among women with a prior rape history relative to scores among women with a prior rape history in the standard care condition. At Time 2, depression scores were also lower among those with a prior rape history who were in the video relative to the standard care condition. Small effects indicating higher PTSD and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores among women without a prior rape history in the video condition were observed at Time 1. Accelerated longitudinal growth curve analysis indicated a videoxprior rape history interaction for PTSD, yielding four patterns of symptom trajectory over time. Women with a prior rape history in the video condition generally maintained the lowest level of symptoms.
Resnick
Heidi
H
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. resnickh@musc.edu
Acierno
Ron
R
Waldrop
Angela E
AE
King
Lynda
L
King
Daniel
D
Danielson
Carla
C
Ruggiero
Kenneth J
KJ
Kilpatrick
Dean
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014741:Video Recording