Mental Illness as a Vulnerability for Sexual Assault: A Retrospective Study of 7,455 Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Examinations.
Leslie Miles, Julie L Valentine, Linda Mabey and 1 others
PMID 35045047WHAT IT FOUND
In sexual assault exams, 46.7% of patients reported mental illness or psychotropic medications.
They also had more injuries, prior assaults, and no permanent address, so nurses should screen for mental health and safety needs.
Key findings
01Among sexual assault forensic exam patients, 46.7% had self-disclosed mental illness or psychotropic medication use.
02Patients with mental illness were more likely to lack a permanent address, report prior sexual assault, report medical problems, and have documented physical and anogenital injuries than patients without mental illness.
03Depression and anxiety were the most commonly reported mental illness categories, at 26.1% and 23.3%.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This was a retrospective chart review, so researchers could not verify diagnoses or medications. Patients were not asked directly about mental illness. Disclosure depended on how they understood current medical conditions. Psychotropic medication use was used as an indicator of treated mental illness, not a diagnosis, and some medications can be used for other conditions. The sample came from patients who completed a sexual assault forensic exam and reported to law enforcement, so it does not represent all people sexually assaulted. Transgender and intersex patients were excluded because of low numbers, and the sample was mostly White. Military and restricted cases were excluded. The study reports associations at the time of exam, not cause.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest. The supplied text does not state a funding source.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that mental illness caused sexual assault or the higher injury counts. This retrospective chart review shows associations, and mental illness status was based on self-disclosure or medication use, not diagnostic assessment.