Post traumatic stress disorder following male rape

Abstract

The issues surrounding male rape have received increased attention since the introduction of the Sexual Offences Act (1994), where the rape of a man through anal penetration is now legally recognised. In June 1995 the first conviction for male rape under this new law was made at the Old Bailey. However, most of this attention has not resulted in many clinical breakthroughs in helping male rape survivors overcome the post assault impact. Little is known about prevalence, types of assault, consequences facing survivors or therapeutic options. Some evidence is being reported that male rape survivors develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following the assault. The development of PTSD in female rape survivors is now well documented, but to date there have been no systematic UK prevalence studies which have found this relationship with male survivors of rape. This paper examines the literature relevant to male rape and the development of PTSD. A case example is given to demonstrate this relationship.