ABSTRACT
The authors summarize four studies on dissociation among women in prostitution, and discuss clinical aspects of the relationship between trauma, dissociation and prostitution. Dissociative disorders are common among those in escort, street, massage, strip club and brothel prostitution, and are frequently accompanied by posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse. These in turn are linked to high rates of childhood physical and sexual abuse, and to violent victimization while in prostitution. The existing data suggest that almost all who are in prostitution suffer from at least one of the following types of disorders; dissociative, posttraumatic, mood or substance abuse. Further research to refine and replicate these findings is warranted.
