Early Psychological Intervention After Rape (EIR)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Rape Sexual Assault, Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Women ≥ 16 years of age
- attending after a trauma meeting the DSM V trauma definition criterion "sexual violation" (in this context, characterized by penetration in any body orifice, by penis, finger, foreign body, but also attempted penetration leading to a sufficient mental reaction, helplessness, without control, intense fear etc.)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Age < 16 years
- male biological gender
- cognitive disability
- acute psychosis
- acute suicidal
- severe alcohol/drug abuse
- current treatment for PTSD
- non-Norwegian speaking
- total amnesia for the event
Sites / Locations
- Oslo Emergency Medical Agency (Oslo kommune, Legevakten, Overgrepsmottaket i Oslo)
- Sandefjord Emergency Medical Agency (Legevakten, Overgrepsmottaket i Vestfold)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Olavs hospital (Overgrepsmottaket)Recruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Modified prolonged exposure (add on)
Treatment as usual (TAU)
The psychological intervention modified Prolonged Exposure Therapy (mPE) is applied, in addition to Treatment as usual (TAU) (that is, an Add-on). mPE is a trauma-focused evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) shown to be effective in treating PTSD. We will use imaginal exposure in the sessions with the patient describing the traumatic event in detail while being recorded for later listening and homework, and in vivo exposure for visiting specific places or people. Psychoeducation and controlled breathing exercises play a secondary role in PE. We have adapted the mPE to the current SAC settings in Norway where nurses or social workers, not psychologist, as a rule are performing the psychosocial follow-up for rape victims. In this project we plan for three to five once or twice weekly nurse-/social worker-led mPE interventions, given early after the assault.
Standard care at the sexual assault center (SAC), that is mostly nurse-/social worker-led psychoeducation at varying intervals and extent, and medical follow-up at the SAC.