Acute post-rape plasma cortisol, alcohol use, and PTSD symptom profile among recent rape victims.

Abstract

This study presents the acute post-rape plasma cortisol alcohol use and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom profile among 37 recent female rape victims. Subjects were victims of rape who reported the crime to the police and who received forensic medical examinations within 72 hours post-rape. A total of 15 (41%) women reported alcohol use not related to PTSD status. Cortisol was significantly negative associated with the time of post-rape. A nonsignificant association was seen for the main effect of alcohol use and in the interaction of alcohol use and prior history of assault. The association of history for assault with lower cortisol levels showed a significant effect for the history of assault. Apparent levels were found among newly assaulted women using alcohol. Women with assault histories irrespective of alcohol use showed low levels of cortisol. About 22 (71%) women met the cutoff criteria for PTSD. A main effect was observed in the presence of crime-related PTSD associated with cortisol showing a higher cortisol level. Basing from the results it can be concluded that alcohol use is associated with high levels of cortisol in women with no rape history. Moreover cortisol levels were lower in both alcohol users and nonusers which have been victimized.