@article{ref1,
title="A systematic review of short and medium-term mental health outcomes in young people following sexual assault",
journal="Journal of child and adolescent mental health",
year="2019",
author="MacGregor, Kirsten E. and Villalta, Laia and Clarke, Venetia and Viner, Russell and Kramer, Tami and Khadr, Sophie N.",
volume="31",
number="3",
pages="161-181",
abstract="<i>Objective:</i> Sexual assault peaks in adolescence, yet sequelae at this age are not well understood. This systematic review aimed to describe mental health outcomes following sexual assault in young people. <i>Method:</i> Two reviewers independently searched databases, screening publications from 1990 to 2018. Inclusion criteria included: longitudinal studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses with ≥50% participants aged ten to 24 years; baseline mental health assessment prior to/or <8 weeks post-assault with follow-up ≥ 3 months after the initial assessment.<i>Results:</i> 5 124 titles and abstracts were screened, with 583 papers examined in full. Ten studies met inclusion criteria (sample size 31 to 191). Five studies examined rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reporting rates of up to 95% within one month and up to 60% at 12 months post-assault. Studies evaluating post-traumatic (<i>n</i> = 5) and anxiety (<i>n</i> = 3) symptom scores showed symptoms were highest in the immediate aftermath of the trauma, generally reducing over four to 12 months post-assault. Depressive symptomology appeared to vary between studies (<i>n</i> = 5). However, the majority showed symptoms decreasing over the same time period.<i>Conclusions:</i> Psychopathology is common following sexual assault in young people. Most studies observed reduced rates over time, but there is a paucity of longitudinal research. Psychopathology during the first year after sexual assault is an important treatment target to consider.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1728-0583",
doi="10.2989/17280583.2019.1665533",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2019.1665533"
}