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8/6/2020 Rape-Trauma Syndrome - Coggle Diagram
8/6/2020 Rape-Trauma Syndrome
Pathophysiology
Disruptions to normal physical, emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal behavior.
The symptoms of RTS and post-traumatic stress syndrome overlap. As might be expected, a person who has been raped will generally experience high levels of distress immediately afterward.
Patient education
Counseling or psychotherapy - Counseling or psychotherapy can be helpful in dealing with the events of the assault itself as well as the anger, fear, depression, or anxiety that many people feel afterwards.
Providing the patient with the national sexual assault hotline if they are not comfortable with talking to people face to face.
Behavioral Interventions
Know the patient’s past coping mechanisms, including cultural, religious, and personal beliefs about assault.
Listen for the language the patient uses to describe himself or herself and his or her feelings about the assault.
Explain to the survivor signs and symptoms that many people experience during the long-term phase that may include anxiety, depression, insomnia, phobias, somatic symptoms.
Psychosocial Interventions
provide social support, availability of emotional and physical resources, postive reactions of formal support systems.
Medications
Preventive treatment for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomonas usually includes three antibiotics.
Preventive treatment for hepatitis B may not be needed if you were previously vaccinated with the full series of three hepatitis B vaccines. If you were not previously vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine, one dose is given immediately, followed by additional doses one and six months later.
Preventive treatment for HIV may be recommended. A healthcare provider will discuss the potential risks and benefits of preventive HIV treatments. Preventive treatments for HIV are not usually recommended if more than 72 hours have passed since the assault. A full course of treatment is 28 days. Most emergency departments will provide several days to one week of preventive medication; you are then encouraged to follow-up with a healthcare provider who specializes in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Antidepressant and/or antianxiety medications may be recommended if you have symptoms that are severe or do not improve with counseling alone. Medication can help to manage the following symptoms
Feeling jumpy or startling easily at sudden noise
Remaining "on guard" or constantly alert
Intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks
Medical interventions
Prepare the patient for the physical, genital, and/or pelvic examination: after obtaining a written consent and explaining the procedure beforehand.
Collect and prepare evidence in accordance with procedures required by law, for example:
Blood
Combing pubic hairs
Semen samples
Skin from underneath nails
appropriate care for physical injuries presented
Important Assessments
Evaluate the extent of injury sustained during the assault: abrasions; bruises; lacerations; scratches; vaginal, oral, and rectal trauma; knife wounds; gunshot wounds; strangulation marks.
Examine emotional and behavioral responses.
Determine survivor’s willingness for a physical, genital, and/or pelvic examination.
Know the patient’s past coping mechanisms, including cultural, religious, and personal beliefs about assault.
Observe the response of family members and significant others toward the patient.
Listen for the language the patient uses to describe himself or herself and his or her feelings about the assault.