Early intervention with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to reduce the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms in recent rape victims: a randomized controlled trial

Background About 40% of rape victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within three months after the assault. Considering the high personal and societal impact of PTSD, there is an urgent need for early (i.e. within three months after the incident) interventions to reduce post-traumatic stress in victims of rape. Objective To assess the effectiveness of early intervention with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress, feelings of guilt and shame, sexual dysfunction, and other psychological dysfunction (i.e. general psychopathology, anxiety, depression, and dissociative symptoms) in victims of rape. Method This randomized controlled trial included 57 victims of rape, who were randomly allocated to either two sessions of EMDR therapy or treatment as usual (‘watchful waiting’) between 14 and 28 days post-rape. Psychological symptoms were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 8 and 12 weeks post-rape. Linear mixed models and ANCOVAs were used to analyse differences between conditions over time. Results Within-group effect sizes of the EMDR condition (d = 0.89 to 1.57) and control condition (d = 0.79 to 1.54) were large, indicating that both conditions were effective. However, EMDR therapy was not found to be more effective than watchful waiting in reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms, general psychopathology, depression, sexual dysfunction, and feelings of guilt and shame. Although EMDR therapy was found to be more effective than watchful waiting in reducing anxiety and dissociative symptoms in the post-treatment assessment, this effect disappeared over time. Conclusions The findings do not support the notion that early intervention with EMDR therapy in victims of rape is more effective than watchful waiting for the reduction of psychological symptoms, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Further research on the effectiveness of early interventions, including watchful waiting, for this specific target group is needed

Early Intervention with Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy to Reduce the Severity of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Recent Rape Victims: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

It is estimated that more than 40% of rape victims develops a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a statistic that is relatively high compared to other types of trauma. PTSD can affect the victims' psychological, sexual, and physical health. Therefore, there is an urgent need for early interventions to prevent the onset of PTSD in this target group. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) examines the efficacy of early Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy aimed to reduce the severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms in victims of recent rape. Subjects (N = 34) are individuals of 16 years and older who present themselves within 7 days post-rape at one of the four participating Sexual Assault Centres in the Netherlands. The intervention consists of two sessions of EMDR therapy between day 14 and 28 post-rape, while the control group receives treatment as usual, consisting of careful monitoring of stress reactions by a case-manager across two contacts during 1-month post-rape. Baseline assessment, posttreatment assessment and follow-up assessments at 8 and 12-weeks post-rape will be used to assess the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms. In addition, the efficacy of the intervention on psychological and sexual functioning will be determined. Linear mixed model analysis will be used to explore the differences within and between the EMDR group and control group at the various time points. The results of this RCT may help the dissemination and application of evidence-based preventative treatments for PTSD after rape

Psychobiological correlates of rape in female adolescents

A considerable percentage of youth in the Netherlands has been victimized by rape during adolescence. The present research shows that adolescence rape is correlated with high levels of psychological distress, neurobiological dysregulations and increased risk for problems with sexual and pelvic floor functioning. These results are comparable to results from previous research in chronic sexual abuse victims, suggesting that problems related to single rape are serious and should receive sufficient attention in prevention and treatment strategies. The results of this research further suggested that psychological and biological dysregulations correlated to rape may normalize after evidence based psychological treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Also, younger adolescents who have experienced a completed rape by someone close appeared to be at risk for delayed disclosure of rape, i.e. disclosure after one week-post-rape. Moreover, delayed disclosers were less likely to use medical services and to report to the police compared to early disclosers. The results of the present research encourage the improvement of current post-rape services in the Netherlands for adolescents, as they represent the largest group of victims. One possibility is the establishment of a national network of Sexual Assault Centers for acute victims similar to centers in Scandinavian countries. These centers use a multidisciplinary approach, implying that medical, psychological and forensic disciplines work together on one location. There is evidence suggesting that such an approach facilitates recovery from rape and increases chances of apprehension of the offender. This is important because victims who do not recover – and who develop subsequent PTSD – are at risk for sexual revictimization. The first Dutch Sexual Assault Center was established in Utrecht in 2012. The first results show that most victims who consulted this center within one week post-assault were females between 12 and 25 years. Also, a substantial proportion of the sample reported risk factors for PTSD and revictimization, such as prior victimization, pre-existing use of mental health services and not living with both biological parents. One third of the cases reported to the police, which is above national report percentages of 10%. To establish a network of Sexual Assault Centers in the Netherlands involved disciplines must be engaged and passionate about the issue as there are various bumps in the road. Second, involved disciplines need to have enough power and expertise. Third, they need to be in this for the long-haul. In conclusion, adolescence rape is a serious problem and efforts should be made to raise public awareness about its potential impact on (mental) health, but also about (early) evidence based treatments for PTSD such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy and EMDR. It is of great importance that rape-related PTSD is treated effectively as there is evidence suggesting that PTSD symptomatology may enhance sexual assault victims’ risk for revictimization via a number of mechanisms

Jongens en mannen als slachtoffer van seksueel geweld

Het stereotype beeld van seksueel geweld dat onder velen in de samenleving heerst is: de vrouw is slachtoffer en de man is dader. Door onderzoeken die in Nederland zijn uitgevoerd is beter zichtbaar geworden dat ook jongens en mannen regelmatig slachtoffer worden van seksueel misbruik. In 2017 lieten mannen onder de hashtag #Mentoo van zich horen. Ze vertelden dat ook zij waren misbruikt; niet alleen door andere mannen, maar ook door vrouwen. Het wordt steeds duidelijker dat vrouwen net zo goed in staat zijn tot aanranding en verkrachting als mannen. Ondanks deze ontwikkelingen blijft de kennis achter over hoe vaak seksueel geweld van jongens en mannen plaats vindt, wie de daders zijn, wat de (psychologische) gevolgen zijn, en wat de beste mogelijkheden zijn voor behandeling, alsook aandachtspunten in de behandeling. Dit artikel bundelt actuele kennis uit de beschikbare wetenschappelijke literatuur over deze doelgroep. Specifiek wordt stil gestaan bij seksueel geweld van mannen door vrouwelijke daders

Jongens en mannen als slachtoffer van seksueel geweld

Item does not contain fulltextHet stereotype beeld van seksueel geweld dat onder velen in de samenleving heerst is: de vrouw is slachtoffer en de man is dader. Door onderzoeken die in Nederland zijn uitgevoerd is beter zichtbaar geworden dat ook jongens en mannen regelmatig slachtoffer worden van seksueel misbruik. In 2017 lieten mannen onder de hashtag #Mentoo van zich horen. Ze vertelden dat ook zij waren misbruikt; niet alleen door andere mannen, maar ook door vrouwen. Het wordt steeds duidelijker dat vrouwen net zo goed in staat zijn tot aanranding en verkrachting als mannen. Ondanks deze ontwikkelingen blijft de kennis achter over hoe vaak seksueel geweld van jongens en mannen plaats vindt, wie de daders zijn, wat de (psychologische) gevolgen zijn, en wat de beste mogelijkheden zijn voor behandeling, alsook aandachtspunten in de behandeling. Dit artikel bundelt actuele kennis uit de beschikbare wetenschappelijke literatuur over deze doelgroep. Specifiek wordt stil gestaan bij seksueel geweld van mannen door vrouwelijke daders.3 p