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

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