Anxiety and mood (대한불안의학회지)

Korean Academy of Anxiety Disorders (대한불안의학회)
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Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mental Health in Female Victims by Sex Trade : A Follow-Up Study in Shelter Samples

성매매 피해 여성의 외상 후 스트레스 증상과 정신건강-탈 성매매 후 추적 연구

  • Kim, Seong-Cheol (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Lee, Jun-Woo (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Song, Jeong-Min (Department of Psychiatry, Keyo Hospital) ;
  • Jun, Tae-Youn (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Chae, Jeong-Ho (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • 김성철 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 이준우 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 송정민 (계요병원 정신과) ;
  • 전태연 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 채정호 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실)
  • Received : 2006.05.08
  • Accepted : 2006.05.29
  • Published : 2006.06.30
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Abstract

Objectives : Since prostitution is multitraumatic phenomena, it is known that most women in prostitution have symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental illness. In Korea, new anti-prostitution law launched in the year of 2004 imposes protecting prostituted victims at government-supported shelter. The objective of this study was to compare the mental symptoms, especially PTSD features of women who escaped from prostitution with those of control subjects. Methods : We assessed 113 ex-prostituted women who live in shelter for 8 months on the average and 65 normal control subjects. Demographic data, questionnaire for sleep, physical illness, smoking, alcohol and drug use, Stress Response Inventory, Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were used. Results : Ex-prostituted women had significantly higher scores of DTS, IES-R, stress related responses, sleep problems, smoking problems, and alcohol problems than control group. Age and duration of sex trade of the subjects were significantly correlated with the severity or frequency of PTSD symptoms. The degree of smoking, alcohol drinking and sleep problems were also significantly correlated with the PTSD symptoms. Conclusion : These results suggested mental symptoms did not disappear even after women escaped from prostitution.

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