Psychological profiles of adult sexual assault victims

Abstract

This is a retrospective analysis of the psychological and psychiatric history of adult patients who attended the Lancashire Sexual Assault and Forensic Examination Centre between April 1st 2010 and March 31st 2011 for forensic examination. During this time 269 adults attended for forensic examination; the records of these patients were audited for evidence of psychological or psychiatric ill health. Affective disorders were disclosed in 48.7% of cases (depression, depression and anxiety, anxiety, bipolar affective disorder) and 3.0% declared having been diagnosed with a psychotic illness (schizophrenia, psychotic illness, psychotic behaviour). Furthermore, deliberate self-harm was disclosed by 29.4% of complainants and 22.3% of attendees had attempted suicide at least once in their lifetime. This study highlights increased prevalence of mental illness in sexual assault complainants which contributes to increased states of vulnerability. This and further similar research efforts have a role to influence prevention schemes, management strategies and healthcare planning for those individuals who are sexually assaulted.