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Zaydlin M, Pérez-Laras L, Laras L. The Role of Psychiatry in the Management of Sexual Assault: A Case Series. Cureus. 2021;13(3):e13644doi: 10.7759/cureus.13644.
Zaydlin, M., Pérez-Laras, L., & Laras, L. (2021). The Role of Psychiatry in the Management of Sexual Assault: A Case Series. Cureus, 13(3), e13644. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.13644
Zaydlin, Michelle, et al. "The Role of Psychiatry in the Management of Sexual Assault: A Case Series." Cureus vol. 13,3 (2021): e13644. doi: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.13644
Zaydlin M, Pérez-Laras L, Laras L. The Role of Psychiatry in the Management of Sexual Assault: A Case Series. Cureus. 2021 Mar 01;13(3):e13644. doi: 10.7759/cureus.13644. PMID: 33824797; PMCID: PMC8012172.
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Cureus. 2021 Mar 01;13(3):e13644. doi: 10.7759/cureus.13644.

The Role of Psychiatry in the Management of Sexual Assault: A Case Series.

Cureus

Michelle Zaydlin, Linda Pérez-Laras, Linda Laras

Affiliations

  1. Psychiatry, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, USA.
  2. Epidemiology and Public Health, Puerto Rico Health Justice Center/Centro Salud Justicia; San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, PRI.
  3. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Puerto Rico Health Justice Center/Centro Salud Justicia; Forensic Pediatric/Adolescent Gynecology, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, PRI.

PMID: 33824797 PMCID: PMC8012172 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.13644

Abstract

Victims of childhood sexual abuse are at an increased risk for a multitude of mental health conditions. While many children exhibit concerning behavioral changes following abuse, there is often a delay in identification and implementation of psychiatric services, resulting in worsening mental and physical health outcomes for victims. This case series aims to demonstrate the importance of multidisciplinary victim-centered and trauma-focused treatment including proactive psychiatric care. The review presents three cases of child victims of sexual abuse who received psychiatric care after their initial presentation to the Puerto Rico Health Justice Center (PRHJC). As evidenced by the following cases and extant literature, child victims of sexual abuse have an increased risk of severe mental health disorders. This indicates the importance of recognizing and understanding behavioral warning signs of childhood sexual abuse and the importance of psychiatric care as early as possible following disclosure.

Copyright © 2021, Zaydlin et al.

Keywords: access to healthcare; child abuse and neglect; child and adolescent psychiatry; child sexual abuse; clinical forensic medicine; mental health services; multidisciplinary decision-making; psychiatry and mental health; • access to healthcare and health outcomes of vulnerable populations

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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