An assessment of long-term reaction to rape.

To examine long-term reactions to rape, 27 adult women who had been rape victims were interviewed and their current functioning assessed through a variety of written measures. Victims were significantly more depressed and reported less pleasure in daily activities than matched nonvictim controls. Women who had been victims of sudden violent attacks by complete strangers showed the most severe reactions, being even more depressed, fatigued, and fearful, and getting less satisfaction from activities than victims of other types of assaults.