Male rape: the impact of a legal definition on the clinical area.

Recently the awareness of the issues surrounding male rape has received increased attention by both mental health workers and the general public following the introduction of the Sexual Offences Act 1994, and the recent case at the Old Bailey where a historical breakthrough was made in June 1995 following the first conviction for male rape under the new law. However, most of this attention has not resulted in many clinical breakthroughs in helping male rape survivors overcome the post-assault impact. Little is known about the prevalence, types of assault, consequences facing survivors and therapeutic options. Some evidence is being reported that male rape survivors develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following the assault. It has long been recognized that this is the case with female rape survivors, but to date there have been no significant UK prevalence studies which have examined this relationship. This paper discusses some of the issues surrounding male rape by focusing on the possible effects of the recent legal change on the clinical area.