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Stories about sexual activity abound and are often the source of considerable interest and speculation. These anecdotal accounts are rarely subjected to any serious scrutiny and yet may develop folklore proportions. It is concerning that many forensic practitioners are prepared to perpetuate similar myths behind a veneer of scientific practice. Practices such as impotence or virginity testing and the interpretation of penile measurements are lucrative endeavors that remain alive and well. Similarly. court evidence on topics such as the circumstances by which genital injuries were sustained, the relationship between pubertal staging and age or the interpretation of anal findings are often less than objective. These practices are unprofessional. Further, they have the potential to cause significant harm to many individuals and to undermine the standing of the criminal justice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The files of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine were reviewed for all cases of alleged drug facilitated sexual assault for the 12 month period concluding in April 2003. Seventy-six eases were identified from a total of 434 (17.5%) cases of adult sexual assault. The median delay from alleged incident to time of examination was 20 h. Alcohol consumption in the hours prior to the assault was reported by 77%. Alcohol was still present in 37% when subsequently examined, with an average blood alcohol concentration of 0.11% at the time of examination. Forty-nine percent reported using prescription medications and 26% reported the use of recreational drugs. Drugs not reportedly consumed by the subject were detected in 15 cases (20%) of the study group or 3% of all adult sexual assault cases. The drugs detected included cannabis (four cases), antidepressants (4), amphetamines (3), benzodiazepines (4) and opiates (3). The study indicates that covert administration of drugs in the setting of adult sexual assault appears uncommon. The true incidence however may be higher (due to non or delayed reporting) or lower (due to inaccurate self reporting of drug consumption) however the frequent findings of high concentrations of alcohol has implications for the health and safety of these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the rate and risk of clinical and personality disorders diagnosed in childhood and adulthood in those known to have been sexually abused during childhood. Methods: Forensic medical records of 2,759 sexually abused children assessed between 1964 and 1995 were linked with a public psychiatric database between 12 and 43 years later. Cases were compared to control subjects matched on gender and age groupings drawn from the general population through a random sample of the national electoral database. Results: A lifetime record of contact with public mental health services was found in 23.3% of cases compared to 7.7% of controls. The rate of contact among child sexual abuse victims was 3.65 times higher (95% CI, 3.09–4.32, p <0.001). It was estimated that child sexual abuse accounted for approximately 7.83% of mental health contact. Exposure to sexual abuse increased risks for the majority of outcomes including psychosis, affective, anxiety, substance abuse, and personality disorders. Rates of clinical disorders diagnosed in adulthood and childhood remained significantly higher among child sexual abuse cases. Older age at sexual abuse and those exposed to severe abuse involving penetration or multiple offenders were associated with greater risk for psychopathology. Conclusions: This study confirms that child sexual abuse is a substantial risk factor for a range of mental disorders in both childhood and adulthood. Practice implications: Those treating victims of sexual abuse must assess not only disorders commonly associated with trauma, but also low prevalence disorders such as psychosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]