Post-traumatic stress disorder within a primary care setting: effectively and sensitively responding to sexual trauma...

It is estimated that 1 in 4 females and 1 in 6 males have experienced sexual assault or abuse before the age of 18. While the response to such experiences vary, a significant number of survivors will develop post-traumatic stress disorder or another mental illness. Post-traumatic responses can persist for years and may impact a patient's experience of medical care. Unfortunately, consistent inquiry around sexually traumatic experiences is not implemented in primary care settings. As a result, patients may feel retraumatized while receiving care or their mental health symptoms may be misdiagnosed, resulting in inappropriate treatment or referrals. Screening for sexual trauma and gaining an understanding of how to respond empathically to post-traumatic responses enable primary care physicians to provide sensitive and effective care to trauma survivors.