Risk factors for PTSD and depression in female survivors of rape.

Abstract

Objective To investigate association of the socio-demographic factors, characteristics of rape and social support to the development of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder at six months after the rape. Methods A cross-sectional survey with female survivors of rape was carried out in three provinces of South Africa six months after the rape. Results One hundred female survivors s of sexual assault were interviewed. More than half (53%) were from Limpopo, (25%) from Western Cape and (22%) from KwaZulu -Natal. 87% reported high levels of PTSD and (51%) moderate to severe depression post-rape. The major risk factors for PTSD and depression were the unmarried survivors of rape and those living in KZN. The female survivors of rape in KZN province were seven times more likely to experience symptoms of depression compared to other provinces, while married/cohabiting female rape survivors were six times less likely to report symptoms of depression compared to the unmarried female rape survivors. Conclusion These findings add support to existing literature on PTSD and depression as common mental health consequence of rape and also provide evidence that survivors’ socio- demographics – marital status, employment status are significant contributors to the development of symptoms of depression and PTSD after rape. The results have research and clinical practice relevance for ensuring that PTSD and trauma treatment focuses on an in-depth understanding of the various aspects of the socio demographic factors and rape characteristics that contribute to survivors’ mental state and how these compound stress and depression symptoms over time post-rape victimization.

A risky business : examining the prevalence and correlates of post traumatic stress disorder symptomology and social support in Kentucky's adult correctional staff.

“…Moving to the social support variables, marital status/presence of a significant other was not significant. This is in contrast to earlier studies indicating marriage in first responders (Berger et al, 2007;Corneil et al, 1999) and the presence of a significant other in survivors of assault (Mgoqi-Mbalo, Zhang, & Ntuli, 2017) may reduce symptomology.…”

“…Hence, this dissertation seeks to determine the factors which may insulate staff from experiencing symptoms of PTSD to include social support. Current research shows evidence that the presence of a significant other (Mgoqi-Mbalo, Zhang, & Ntuli, 2017) and legal spouse reduces the likelihood of PTSD symptoms (Berger, Figueira, Maurat, Bucassio, Vieira, Jardim, Coutinho, Mari, & Mendlowicz, 2007;Corneil, Beaton, Murphy, Johnson, & Pike, 1999). Included in this dissertation is the variable of marital status/presence of a significant other to determine if this has an effect, and if so, what kind?…”

Perceptions of Sexual Assault: Effects of Victim Physiological Arousal and Victim Gender on Jurors’ Decisions

“…Anderson, 2007). Research suggests that even when victims do report their sexual assaults, they are not always provided with sufficient resources to support them (Maddox, Lee, & Barker, 2012;Mgoqi-Mbalo, Zhang, & Ntuli, 2017;Weiss, 2010;Wyatt, Ahrens, Cabral, & Abeling, 2017). This is especially apparent for male victims of sexual assault .…”

Mechanisms Underlying Unconscious Processing and Their Alterations in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Neuroimaging of Zero Monetary Outcomes Contextually Framed as “No Losses” vs. “No Gains”

“…In contrast to healthy controls they, however, failed to display extra satisfaction that is normally incumbent upon omission of the negative outcome, which may be another instance of a rational processing. In fact, an etiologically and pathophysiologically linked ( Smoller, 2016 ; Mgoqi-Mbalo et al, 2017 ) construct of major depression is likewise associated with a lack of misperception of at least some of reality aspects typical of mental health ( Moore and Fresco, 2012 ). Even so, the fast and intuitive unconscious processing is underlying the lion’s share of the healthy thinking apparatus ( Kahneman, 2011 ) and its diminution/impairment in neuropsychiatric disorders such as PTSD and major depression requires continued consideration by researchers and clinicians alike.…”