1. Rape-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Sean MacMillen
Rape
 Penetration, no matter how slight, of
the vagina or anus with any body part
or object, or oral penetration by a sex
organ of another person, without the
consent of the victim
 any kind of nonconsensual penetration,
no matter the gender of the attacker or
victim
 Attacks on men counted
 683,000 women raped each year
 Between 54%-84% of rapes go
unreported
What is PTSD?
 Psychiatric disorder that can occur following the
experience or witnessing of life threatening events
 Military combat
 Natural disasters
 Terrorist Incidents
 Serious Accidents
 Violent personal attacks
 Can significantly impair a person’s daily life
 Associated with difficulties in social or family life,
including occupational instability, marital problems,
and family discord
 31% of women (211,000) develop PTSD after rape
Symptoms
 Re-experiencing the trauma
 Social withdrawal
 Avoidance behaviors and actions
 Increased physiological arousal
 characteristics
 Three times more likely than non-
victims to have a major depressive
episode
 13.4 times more likely to have alcohol
problems
 26 times more likely to have drug
abuse problems
Where to go for help?
 Local Women’s Center
 Mental health professional
 Rape treatment center
 Rape hotline
 Trusted confidant (family or friend)
 Religious leader
Treatment
 Healing is possible
 Early intervention reduces distress
 Cognitive-behavioral therapy
 Pharmacotherapy (medication)
 Eye movement desensitization
reprocessing (EMDR)
 Group therapy
 Brief psychodynamic psychotherapy
Risk Factors - PTSD
 History of depression
 Alcohol abuse
 Experienced injury during rape
 Previous trauma
 Low self-esteem
 Lack of adequate or competent social
support after the rape