A comparison of normal forgetting, psychopathology, and information-processing models of reported amnesia for recent sexual trauma

This study assessed memories for sexual trauma in a nontreatment-seeking sa mple of recent rape victims and considered competing explanations for faile d recall. Participants were 92 female rape victims assessed within 2 weeks of the rape; 62 were also assessed 3 months postassault. Memory deficits fo r parts of the rape were common 2 weeks postassault (37%) hut improved over the 3-month window studied (16% still partially amnesic). Hypotheses evalu ated competing models of explanation that may account for reported recall d eficits. Results are most consistent with information-processing models of traumatic memory.