Disclosures of sexual abuse: what do you do next?

BACKGROUND

Sexual abuse, especially in childhood, often has severe and long-lasting clinical consequences, both physical and psychological.

OBJECTIVE

This article outlines an approach to use when patients disclose a history of sexual abuse, and provides some resources to call on in those circumstances.

DISCUSSION: This article addresses questions one might ask to uncover a history of sexual abuse, possible responses to disclosures of sexual abuse, and documentation of these disclosures.