ABSTRACT
The concept of the incest survivor syndrome has been developed as a useful guide to clinicians who work with victims of incest. Survivors often present in therapy with a variety of cognitive, emotional, physical, and interpersonal difficulties. As adults, the cognitive problems may manifest as gaps in memories, childhood amnesia, thought disorders, or enduring concentration and learning difficulties. Some survivors present with children in treatment who have been either physically or sexually abused. Furthermore, survivors’ reactions to the trauma also meet the criteria set forth in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for post-traumatic stress disorder. In women, survivors may be able to achieve orgasm only through solitary masturbation. Arousal disorders are common in both male and female survivors. In the Lundberg-Love et al study, 67% of female survivors experienced an aversion to sex. Survivors who are able to get married and have children often experience severe anxieties in relation to the children.
