Publications
Publication from the RISE Pilot (2020 to 2023)
October 5, 2023 鈼� Survivors of recent sexual assault reported that RISE Guide, a CBT-based web application, is acceptable and helpful.
Publications from the Women’s Health Study (2014 to 2020)
We completed data collection for the Women’s Health Study in 2020, and continue to publish impactful research from the results of this 5-year, 706-participant study on experiences and health outcomes of sexual assault survivors.
June 2024 鈼� This brief, eight-item risk stratification tool consists of easy-to-collect information and, if validated, may be useful for clinical trial enrichment and/or patient screening.
July 3, 2021 鈼� Female patients who had been sexually assaulted and who were evaluated at 13 widely geographically distributed sexual assault nurse examiners鈥� programs consistently reported that the sexual assault nurse examiners provided high-quality, compassionate care.
May 2021 鈼� Qualitative analyses of open鈥恊nded responses from a large cohort of women sexual assault survivors receiving SANE care highlight the challenges for survivors and can increase understanding among the emergency care practitioners who care for them.
January 2021 鈼� Most women receiving emergency care after sexual assault experience substantial posttraumatic sequelae, but health care in the 6 weeks after assault is uncommon, unrelated to substantive differences in need, and limited in socially disadvantaged groups. Lack of disclosure to primary care providers was common among women who did receive care.
November 11, 2020 鈼� In a subsample of 48 women sexual assault survivors enrolled as part of a larger prospective observational study, elevated anxiety sensitivity measured via a brief assessment 1 week after experiencing a sexual assault was concurrently associated with PTSS at 1 week and prospectively predicted PTSS 6 weeks after the event, with small-to-medium effect sizes.
May 1, 2020 鈼� Adverse physical and mental health outcomes are common among women students who are sexually assaulted. Further studies are needed which evaluate longitudinal health, academic, and career outcomes of women students experiencing sexual assault.
May 1, 2020 鈼� Increased peritraumatic E2 levels predict improved CPMP outcomes in women.
May 1, 2020 鈼� Anxiety sensitivity, or fear of anxious arousal, has been shown to predict posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) after campus shootings and analogue traumas. Sexual assault disproportionately impacts women and often results in prolonged PTSS.
May 1, 2020 鈼� Pain after SA is a posttraumatic stress disorder.
May 1, 2020 鈼� Peritraumatic stress symptoms in the early aftermath of sexual assault influence the transition from acute to persistent pain, particularly dysphoric arousal.
May 1, 2020 鈼� Identifying predictors of posttraumatic stress may help inform the development of preventive interventions for women who present for emergency care in the immediate aftermath of sexual assault. However, to date no large-scale, multi-site, prospective studies of SA survivors presenting for emergency care have been performed.
November 21, 2019 鈼� Women 鈮�18 years of age who present for emergency care within 72鈥塰ours of sexual assault to a network of treatment centres across the USA are approached for study participation. Blood DNA and RNA samples and brief questionnaire and medical record data are obtained from women providing initial consent. Full consent is obtained at initial 1鈥墂eek follow-up to analyse blood sample data and to perform assessments at 1鈥墂eek, 6鈥墂eeks, 6鈥塵onths and 1鈥墆ear.
May 15, 2019 鈼� Increasing evidence suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can result in enduring neurobiological changes that increase pain and psychological vulnerability. To date, the influence of ACEs on acute pain and psychological responses following sexual assault is unknown.
May 15, 2019 鈼� The association between sexual assault (SA) characteristics on acute pain and psychological responses following SA is unknown.
September 26, 2018 鈼� Bioinformatic, in vitro, and mutational analyses indicate that the rs3800373 minor allele reduces the binding of a stress- and pain-associated microRNA, miR-320a, to FKBP5 via altering the FKBP5 mRNA 3鈥睻TR secondary structure (i.e., is a riboSNitch).
May 1, 2018 鈼� Little data exists regarding receipt of mental health care services by sexual assault survivors in the early aftermath of sexual assault.
May 1, 2018 鈼� Sexual assault occurs to one in five US women and is associated with a range of adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes, including posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms. Characteristics associated with increased psychological resilience in the early aftermath of sexual assault remain poorly understood.
May 1, 2018 鈼� To reduce HIV risk, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is prescribed to some women sexual assault (SA) survivors who present for emergency care after SA. However, the use of HIV PEP, and/or accompanying medication side effects, may serve as reminders of the SA, augmenting posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).
September 2017 鈼� Adverse mental and physical health outcomes are common and morbid among sexual assault survivors. Future analyses will include the full participant sample and later follow-up time points.
May 15, 2017 鈼� Strangulation-associated sexual assault, but not other sexual assault-related characteristics, predict increased posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms six weeks after assault.
Publications from the Women’s Health Pilot Study (2008 to 2011)
In order to assess the feasibility and challenges of building a multi-site network dedicated to improving the care provided to sexual assault survivors, a pilot study for the Women鈥檚 Health Study was undertaken from 2008 to 2011. Results from the pilot informed and supported the development of the Women鈥檚 Health Study in 2014.
February 2017 鈼� ADRA2A rs3750625 contributes to poststress musculoskeletal pain severity by modulating miR-34a regulation.
August 2013 鈼� Glucocorticoid pathways influence the development of persistent posttraumatic pain, and that such pathways may be a target of pharmacologic interventions aimed at improving recovery after trauma.
February 2013 鈼� Among 52 white American women SA survivors presenting for care within 48 hours of sexual assault, those with a G allele experienced less severe pain and a reduced extent of pain during the 6 weeks after sexual assault.