The authors obtained complete histories of all experiences of being
physically or sexually assaulted from 100 psychiatric inpatients, using a
structured interview with well-defined assault scales and a detailed
inquiry into circumstances surrounding the assault. The majority (81%) of
patients had experienced major physical and/or sexual assault. The
circumstances associated with the assaults, the patients' perceptions of
the effects of the assaults, and previous therapists' lack of awareness of
the assaults are discussed. On the basis of these findings the authors
recommend routine inquiry into patients' assault history.
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