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Biomedical subjects

E C O'Gorman

Publications and source records attributed to E C O'Gorman.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Assault characteristics and posttraumatic stress disorder in rape victims.

A diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) encompasses several of the symptoms associated with the response to rape. The object of this study was to determine the incidence of PTSD among 51 rape victims and to compare the groups with and without PTSD with respect to the characteristics of the assaults. The results showed that 70% of the victims had PTSD and further suggested that PTSD was likely to be a long-term problem for these women. The results supported the view that psychological treatment approaches to rape victims should take into account the posttraumatic nature of the response. The incidence of rapes by strangers, of physical force being used, of weapons being displayed and of injuries being sustained by the victim were all higher in the group of women who had PTSD. These are all features that can be readily identified in the initial assessment of the rape victim and may help to identify the victims at risk of developing long-term psychological sequelae after rape. Appropriate therapeutic action taken early may influence the prognosis for a significant proportion of rape victims.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Rape--a comparison of stranger and acquaintance assaults.

One of the variables that influences victim trauma in rape attacks is the relationship between assailant and victim (Ellis, 1981). Rapes by strangers have been shown to involve more violence and trauma (Katz and Mazur, 1979). Rapes by acquaintances may involve a betrayal of trust. The study compares 21 rape attacks where the assailant was known to the victim with 30 attacks where the assailant was a stranger. Three main elements of each assault are described: the contextual nature of the rape encounter, the assault characteristics (force, injuries, nature of sexual activity) and the post-rape behaviour. Significant differences were found between the two groups in each of these respects. Contact between rapist and victim took place in a social setting immediately prior to the assault in significantly more of the acquaintance rapes. Significantly more of the stranger rapes involved the display of a weapon. Coercive reciprocation of sexual activity occurred in proportionately more of stranger rapes. The role of verbal aggression was more prominent in acquaintance rapes. Significantly more of the acquaintance rapists (95% as opposed to 17%) interacted with the victim after the overtly sexual part of the attack. Two types of behaviour were displayed in almost equal proportions. Conciliatory/non-threatening behaviour consistent with a distorted affirmation of a person-orientated relationship with the victim was displayed by 43% of these assailants; 48% displayed threatening behaviour. We believe that stranger and acquaintance rapes can be clearly differentiated in terms of the behavioural dimensions of the assault. An understanding of such differences has implications for professionals involved in the assessment and treatment of sexual offenders and their victims.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Assailants' sexual dysfunction during rape reported by their victims.

Sexual dysfunction is known to occur in a proportion of rapists during the assault. The most common dysfunctions are erectile insufficiency and absent or retarded ejaculation. The study assessed the incidence and characteristics of assailants' sexual dysfunction reported by 50 victims of rape. 20% of victims reported that their assailant experienced erectile insufficiency at some point during the assault, and a further 12% reported retarded ejaculation or failure to ejaculate by their attacker. In attacks where sexual dysfunction occurred, there was a higher incidence both of intra-rape violence and commissioning of degrading sexual activity and this behaviour was related to the onset of the dysfunction. It was felt that the pattern of behaviour reported in those attacks where rapists' sexual dysfunction occurred might reflect a typologically distinct subgroup of offender. This finding has implications both for the safety of the victim during the attack and subsequent offender assessment.

Ejaculation↗
PubMed1989

Sexual anxiety in sexual dysfunction.

Sexual anxiety was examined in 98 patients presenting with sexual dysfunction and 68 of their partners at a psychosexual clinic using the SOMA questionnaire. All patients had raised values for heterosexual anxiety. Female partners had raised values while male partners did not. This provides further evidence for the role of heterosexual anxiety in the aetiology and treatment of sexual dysfunction.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1988

Sexual problems and their management: a survey of general practice in Northern Ireland.

This survey suggests a similar prevalence of sexual problems in general practice in Northern Ireland compared with England and Wales. Of the respondents, 9.6% reported a much higher prevalence which may indicate a greater ability in detecting sexual problems and therefore implies that many cases are being missed. The majority of problems appear to be dealt with in general practice, although referral is often considered, with the Psychosexual Clinic being the preferred option. Difficulties encountered with referral are highlighted by the survey. It is suggested that provision of more information about the clinic, visits by therapists to practices and further training opportunities would help general practitioners in managing sexual problems.

England↗
PubMed1986

The SOMA--a questionnaire measure of sexual anxiety.

SOMA, a questionnaire designed by J. T. Quinn to measure sexual anxiety in patients presenting at a psychosexual clinic, has been used extensively as a clinical and research tool. Its construction and scoring are described, and data are presented for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, principal components analysis, and validity. Practical applications for diagnosis, prognosis, and research are discussed.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1985

A review of referrals to the psychosexual clinic at the Belfast City Hospital.

The number of patients seen at the psychosexual clinic has more than doubled in eight years. The diagnostic categories of the patients referred have also changed, especially in the area of homosexuality, and now show greater similarity to figures obtained in two reports from Great Britain, apart from a lower referral rate for orgasmic dysfunction. There is also an overall lower rate of referral in Northern Ireland. This raises the question as to whether or not there is a real difference in the prevalence of these disorders in the Province, compared with Great Britain.

Female↗
PubMed1984

Assessment of clinical psychiatric skills in final-year medical students: the use of videotape.

Sixty final-year medical students had their clinical performance in psychiatry assessed by the following three methods: a multiple choice questionnaire based on a series of short videotaped interviews with psychiatric patients; the examination of a traditional long 'case' with presentation of the history, mental state findings and formulation about diagnosis and management to a panel of three examiners; and a conventional oral examination about the principles and practice of psychiatry with a different trio of examiners. The total mark on the videotape session correlated significantly with the combined clinical and oral marks. There was also a significant positive correlation between the total video marks and the individual clinical marks, but none between the marks obtained during the video and oral components of the examination. However, the significant positive correlations between the video marks and those of the clinical examination were modest and only accounted for not more than 14% of the variance. Inspection of the distribution of correct answers to the videotape questions shows that students do best in identifying mental state symptoms and signs and in choosing the correct diagnosis. They do less well in the areas of aetiology and treatment. Indeed, optimal performance in the latter distinguishes those who do well in the clinical/oral examination from those whose performance is mediocre. The significance of these findings to the teaching and assessment of psychiatric skills in medical students is discussed.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMed1981

Transsexualism.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

The treatment of frigidity: a comparative study of group and individual desensitization.

Forty patients took part in this study. Twenty patients treated by group desensitization were compared with twenty treated by individual desensitization. Group desensitization appeared the more effective treatment if outcome was measured on the patients' self-rating scale, but the less effective if outcome was measured by the sexual interest questionnaire. Of the two, the group method took longer to administer, but more patients treated in this way completed the course of treatment.

Adolescent↗