PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ASSAULT HISTORY IN WOMEN WITH SERIOUS MENTAL-ILLNESS - PREVALENCE, CORRELATES, TREATMENT, AND FUTURE-RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

An emerging body of research on the physical and sexual abuse of serio usly mentally ill (SMI) women documents a high incidence and prevalenc e of victimization within this population. While causal links are not well understood, there is convergent evidence that victimization of SM I women is associated with increased symptom levels, HIV-related risk behaviors, and such comorbid conditions as homelessness and substance abuse. These abuse correlates may influence chronicity, service utiliz ation patterns, and treatment alliance. This article reviews the resea rch literature on the prevalence, symptomatic and behavioral correlate s, and treatment of abuse among SMI women, particularly women with sch izophrenia. Within each topic, we discuss relevant research findings, limitations of available studies, and key questions that remain unansw ered. We also discuss mechanisms that may underlie the relationship be tween trauma and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. We conclude by outl ining directions for future research in this area.