Sleep disorders and posttraumatic stress in raped victims

Objective. To determine sleep disorders and posttraumatic stress symptoms in a group of raped female victims and to assess the causal influence by a survey of the association between exposed and unexposed groups and compare those events. Materials and methods. Prospective matched double cohort study. Sample of raped women selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, which went to a Forensic Medicine Institute. A group of non-exposed women matched by age, gender, socioeconomic status, location, timing, and status was selected. We applied the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Impact of Event Scale. Results. Data distribution was not normal. Size, weight, and BMI were similar in both groups. We found statistically significant differences in the total score of the sleep quality variables, subjective quality, efficiency and sleep disturbances, awakening early in the morning, not breathing, coughing or snoring, feeling too cold, feeling too hot, nightmares, use of hypnotics, daytime dysfunction and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Conclusions. The presence of sleep disorders and posttraumatic stress symptoms in victims of rape are significant compared with a matched group of non-raped women in Bogotá.