Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:1338-1340
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Long-term psychological effects of rape in 35 rape victims
JM Santiago, F McCall-Perez, M Gorcey and A Beigel
Thirty-five rape victims who had been assaulted from 2 to 46 years earlier
were interviewed to determine the long-term effects of sexual assault.
Victims were compared to 110 nonabused matched control subjects on their
scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory,
and the modified Fear Survey Interview. An analysis was also conducted to
determine which of the factors characterizing the rape situation had an
influence on the victims' scores. Rape victims were found to be
significantly more depressed, generally anxious, and fearful than control
subjects. Only one rape situation variable, the survivor having been a
prior victim of sexual assault, was found to be related to a higher degree
of depression and anxiety.
