Inflammatory Effects and Immune System Correlates of Rape

Groer, Maureen; Thomas, Sandra P.; Evans, Ginger; Helton, Sally; Weldon, Arielle

doi:10.1891/vv-v21i6a008

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…These findings suggest that hormones may play a role in neuroendocrine responses to stress, and these observations may be especially important among women with abuse histories. Sexual violence victims also have poorer markers of physical health and immune function, including increased level of cytotoxic cells, lower B lymphocyte counts, higher proinflammatory biomarkers, and decreased lymphocyte proliferation compared with controls (Groer, Thomas, Evans, Helton, & Weldon, 2006).…”

Section: Biological Mechanisms Linking Sexual Violence To Adverse Con...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms underlying sexual violence exposure and psychosocial sequelae: A theoretical and empirical review.

Walsh¹,

Galea²,

Koenen³

2012

Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice

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Sexual violence is associated with a range of negative mental health and behavioral sequelae, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance abuse/dependence, risky sexual behavior, and interpersonal relationship problems. However, mechanisms underlying these associations are not well understood. Identifying mechanisms that explain linkages between sexual violence and poor outcomes is of paramount importance in determining when and how to intervene to prevent or reduce the magnitude of these outcomes. This review focuses on theories that have been proposed to explain risk of negative outcomes among sexual violence victims, including the development of traumagenic dynamics and emotion dysregulation. We also review promising biological mechanisms that may explain the risk of negative outcomes among sexual violence victims, including studies concerned with epigenetic and neurobiological mechanisms.

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Section: Biological Mechanisms Linking Sexual Violence To Adverse Con...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms underlying sexual violence exposure and psychosocial sequelae: A theoretical and empirical review.

Walsh¹,

Galea²,

Koenen³

2012

Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Studies of CSA survivors have found hormonal disruption and dysregulartion of the HPA axis (DeBellis et al, 1994; King, Mandansky, King, Fletcher, & Brewer, 2001). In a study of ASA victims obtaining medical forensic exams, Groer, Thomas, Evans, Helton, and Weldon (2006) found that victims had significantly different immune/inflammatory functioning compared to nonassaulted controls. In the most comprehensive study on this topic to date, Woods et al (2005) developed a bio-psycho-immunologic theoretical model to explain how IPV affects women's physical health, which was empirically validated in a predominantly African American sample of 62 IPV victims (about half also experienced ASA in the relationship) and 39 nonabused women.…”

Section: Health Impact Of Multiple Forms Of Violence Against Womenmentioning

confidence: 99%

The co-occurrence of childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and sexual harassment: A mediational model of posttraumatic stress disorder and physical health outcomes.

Campbell

Greeson

Bybee

et al. 2008

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

250

216

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This study examined the co-occurrence of childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and sexual harassment in a predominantly African American sample of 268 female veterans, randomly sampled from an urban Veterans Affairs hospital women's clinic. A combination of hierarchical and iterative cluster analysis was used to identify 4 patterns of women's lifetime experiences of violence co-occurrence. The 1st cluster experienced relatively low levels of all 4 forms of violence; the 2nd group, high levels of all 4 forms; the 3rd, sexual revictimization across the lifespan with adult sexual harassment; and the 4th, high intimate partner violence with sexual harassment. This cluster solution was validated in a theoretically driven model that examined the role of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a mediator of physical health symptomatology. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that PTSD fully mediated the relationship between violence and physical health symptomatology. Consistent with a bio-psycho-immunologic theoretical model, PTSD levels more strongly predicted pain-related physical health symptoms compared to nonpain health problems. Implications for clinical interventions to prevent PTSD and to screen women for histories of violence in health care settings are discussed.

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“…Inflammation was also found to be elevated in a study of 15 women who had been raped 24 to 72 hours after their assault, compared with 16 women who had not been sexually assaulted. Sexually assaulted women had higher ACTH, C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-␥ than women in the nonassaulted group (Groe ¨r, Thomas, Evans, Helton, & Weldon, 2006).…”

Section: Inflammation In Trauma Survivorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological trauma and physical health: A psychoneuroimmunology approach to etiology of negative health effects and possible interventions.

Kendall–Tackett

2009

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

139

107

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People who have experienced traumatic events have higher rates than the general population of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer. An important question, for both researchers and clinicians, is why this occurs. Researchers have discovered that traumatic events dysregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system. More recently, research from the field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) suggests that traumatic life events can lead to health problems through dysregulation of another key system: the inflammatory response. Prior trauma "primes" the inflammatory response system so that it reacts more rapidly to subsequent life stressors. Elevated inflammation has an etiologic role in many chronic illnesses. Recent PNI studies also suggest some interventions that can serve as adjuncts to traditional trauma treatment. These treatments include long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, exercise, and sleep interventions. Each of these interventions downregulates inflammation, which will likely halt the progression to chronic disease for some trauma survivors.

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Inflammatory Effects and Immune System Correlates of Rape

Cited by 6 publications

References 27 publications

Mechanisms underlying sexual violence exposure and psychosocial sequelae: A theoretical and empirical review.

Mechanisms underlying sexual violence exposure and psychosocial sequelae: A theoretical and empirical review.

The co-occurrence of childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and sexual harassment: A mediational model of posttraumatic stress disorder and physical health outcomes.

Psychological trauma and physical health: A psychoneuroimmunology approach to etiology of negative health effects and possible interventions.

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