Rape and Re-Victimization, Treatment of
Abstract
Re-victimization occurs when an individual experiences child abuse (sexual, physical, or psychological) and later victimization (rape, sexual assault, or domestic violence) during adolescence or adulthood. Re-victimized individuals present with a complex array of symptoms resulting from a cumulative impact of abuse, including chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, dissociation, affect dysregulation, dysfunctional interpersonal beliefs, and risky behavior (i.e., substance use). This complex presentation requires a sequential, phase-based approach to intervention, focusing on (1) stabilization and establishing safety, (2) trauma processing, and (3) functional reintegration. Cognitive-behavioral and interpersonally based interventions that focus on psychoeducation, affect regulation skills, processing traumatic memories and challenging maladaptive trauma-related cognitions, and adaptive interpersonal functioning have been shown to reduce symptoms and improve functioning among re-victimized individuals.