Influence of Cognitive Factors on Sexual Assault Recovery: Descriptive Review and Methodological Concerns

This article aims to verify whether the empirical data presented in the literature on sexually assaulted victims support the hypothesis advanced by various aetiological models, which is that cognitions play an important role in the development and maintenance of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The first objective is to present state-of-the-art results on sexually assaulted victims' post-traumatic cognitions and their link to post-assault symptomatology. The second objective is to analyse the various methodological facets of those studies. Finally, paths for future studies are traced and recommendations are made.