THE EFFECTS OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND TREATMENT PROTOCOLS ON RAPE VICTIM SURVIVORS

Abstract

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is caused by extremely stressful or terrifying event-either being part of it or witnessing it. Its symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Rape on the other hand is an unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against a person’s will or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness or deception. The aim of this work is to find out the effects of PTSD on rape victims and how to deal with the said effects. The finding of the work is that rape victims experience Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder (PTSD) in different forms and various degrees and that therapy and medicine are the best form of treatment for PTSD victims. The doctrinal method was used for the work. The work recommends that more work be done on the topic on underage rape victims.