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'Breaking the silence' : sexual victimisation in an old age psychiatry patient population in Flanders

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Abstract
Background: Sexual violence (SV) is linked to mental health problems in adulthood and old age. However, the extent of sexual victimisation in old age psychiatry patients is unknown. Due to insufficient communication skills in both patients and healthcare workers, assessing SV in old age psychiatry patients is challenging. Methods: Between July 2019 and March 2020, 100 patients at three old age psychiatry wards across Flanders participated in a face-to-face structured interview receiving inpatient treatment. The participation rate was 58%. We applied the WHO definition of SV, encompassing sexual harassment, sexual abuse with physical contact without penetration, and (attempted) rape. Outcomes: In 57% of patients (65% F, 42% M) SV occurred during their lifetime and 7% (6% F, 9% M) experienced SV in the past 12-months. Half of the victims disclosed their SV experience for the first time during the interview. Only two victims had disclosed SV to a mental health care professional before. Interpretation: Sexual victimisation appears to be common in old age psychiatry patients, yet it remains largely undetected. Although victims did reveal SV during a face-to-face interview to a trained interviewer, they do not seem to spontaneously disclose their experiences to mental health care professionals. In order to provide tailored care for older SV victims, professionals urgently need capacity building through training, screening tools and care procedures.
Keywords
Sexual abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse and neglect, geriatric psychiatry, violence

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Citation

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MLA
Nobels, Anne, et al. “’Breaking the Silence’ : Sexual Victimisation in an Old Age Psychiatry Patient Population in Flanders.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, vol. 36, no. 10, 2021, pp. 1550–58, doi:10.1002/gps.5565.
APA
Nobels, A., Keygnaert, I., Robert, E., Vandeviver, C., Haekens, A., Lemey, L., … Lemmens, G. (2021). ’Breaking the silence’ : sexual victimisation in an old age psychiatry patient population in Flanders. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, 36(10), 1550–1558. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5565
Chicago author-date
Nobels, Anne, Ines Keygnaert, Egon Robert, Christophe Vandeviver, An Haekens, Lieve Lemey, Marieke Strobbe, Nele Van Den Noortgate, and Gilbert Lemmens. 2021. “’Breaking the Silence’ : Sexual Victimisation in an Old Age Psychiatry Patient Population in Flanders.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY 36 (10): 1550–58. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5565.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Nobels, Anne, Ines Keygnaert, Egon Robert, Christophe Vandeviver, An Haekens, Lieve Lemey, Marieke Strobbe, Nele Van Den Noortgate, and Gilbert Lemmens. 2021. “’Breaking the Silence’ : Sexual Victimisation in an Old Age Psychiatry Patient Population in Flanders.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY 36 (10): 1550–1558. doi:10.1002/gps.5565.
Vancouver
1.
Nobels A, Keygnaert I, Robert E, Vandeviver C, Haekens A, Lemey L, et al. ’Breaking the silence’ : sexual victimisation in an old age psychiatry patient population in Flanders. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY. 2021;36(10):1550–8.
IEEE
[1]
A. Nobels et al., “’Breaking the silence’ : sexual victimisation in an old age psychiatry patient population in Flanders,” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, vol. 36, no. 10, pp. 1550–1558, 2021.
@article{8692516,
  abstract     = {{Background: Sexual violence (SV) is linked to mental health problems in adulthood and old age. However, the extent of sexual victimisation in old age psychiatry patients is unknown. Due to insufficient communication skills in both patients and healthcare workers, assessing SV in old age psychiatry patients is challenging. 

Methods: Between July 2019 and March 2020, 100 patients at three old age psychiatry wards across Flanders participated in a face-to-face structured interview receiving inpatient treatment. The participation rate was 58%. We applied the WHO definition of SV, encompassing sexual harassment, sexual abuse with physical contact without penetration, and (attempted) rape. 

Outcomes: In 57% of patients (65% F, 42% M) SV occurred during their lifetime and 7% (6% F, 9% M) experienced SV in the past 12-months. Half of the victims disclosed their SV experience for the first time during the interview. Only two victims had disclosed SV to a mental health care professional before. 

Interpretation: Sexual victimisation appears to be common in old age psychiatry patients, yet it remains largely undetected. Although victims did reveal SV during a face-to-face interview to a trained interviewer, they do not seem to spontaneously disclose their experiences to mental health care professionals. In order to provide tailored care for older SV victims, professionals urgently need capacity building through training, screening tools and care procedures.}},
  author       = {{Nobels, Anne and Keygnaert, Ines and Robert, Egon and Vandeviver, Christophe and Haekens, An and Lemey, Lieve and Strobbe, Marieke and Van Den Noortgate, Nele and Lemmens, Gilbert}},
  issn         = {{0885-6230}},
  journal      = {{INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY}},
  keywords     = {{Sexual abuse,sexual assault,elder abuse and neglect,geriatric psychiatry,violence}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{1550--1558}},
  title        = {{'Breaking the silence' : sexual victimisation in an old age psychiatry patient population in Flanders}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5565}},
  volume       = {{36}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}

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