Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37819370›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of psychotraumatology2023

Mental health of sexual assault victims and predictors of their use of support from in-house psychologists at Belgian sexual assault care centres.

Saar Baert, Elizaveta Fomenko, Aurélie Machiels, Iva Bicanic, Sara Van Belle, Paul Gemmel, Christine Gilles, Kristien Roelens, Ines Keygnaert

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of psychotraumatology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Is amnesia in women victims of sexual assault a risk factor for developing PTSD symptoms?Psychiatry, psychology, and law : an interdisciplinary journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Saar BaertGhent University, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-9822-148X
Elizaveta FomenkoGhent University, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-1089-8710
Aurélie MachielsGhent University, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent, Belgium.
Iva BicanicNational Psychotrauma Centre for Children and Youth, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Sara Van BelleInstitute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-2074-0359
Paul GemmelGhent University, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-5955-8223
Christine GillesSaint-Pierre University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
Kristien RoelensGhent University, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-0973-7554
Ines KeygnaertGhent University, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-1707-0254

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSexual assault (SA) can induce a negative impact on victims' mental health. Specialised SA services generally offer medical care and a forensic examination to SA victims. However, there is a large variation in how these services provide mental health support.

objectiveThis study aims to assess mental health problems of SA victims attending the Belgian Sexual Assault Care Centres (SACCs) and identify predictors for victims' use of support from in-house psychologists.

methodHealth records of victims ≥ 16 years who presented within one week post-SA to one of the three Belgian SACCs between 25 October 2017 and 31 October 2019 were reviewed. An AIC-based stepwise backward binary logistic regression was used to analyse the association between victim, assault, service use and mental health characteristics and follow-up by a SACC-psychologist.

resultsOf the 555 victims, more than half had a history of mental health problems. Of those assessed, over 70% showed symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and/or anxiety disorder. One in two victims consulted a SACC-psychologist. Victims with a mental health history (OR 1.46,

conclusionThe study reaffirms the high mental health burden among victims attending specialised SA services, stressing the need to provide effective mental health interventions at these services and improve their longer-term use by victims. Prescheduling of appointments with an in-house psychologist in combination with phone reminders may improve the uptake of such services. Health care providers must be vigilant about potential barriers faced by victims without a mental health history or social support in attending appointments with mental health professionals.

Indexed as

Crime VictimsSex OffensesStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticBelgiumHumansMental HealthAgresión sexualatención de seguimientocentro de agresión sexualenfoque multidisciplinariofollow-up caremental healthmultidisciplinary approachsalud mentalSexual assaultsexual assault centre性侵犯;心理健康;后续护理;性侵犯中心;多学科方法

Identifiers

PMID37819370
PMCPMC10569350

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.