• A L Kirkengen.
• Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. 2000 May 20; 120 (13): 1518-22.

BackgroundAccumulated general practice experience from numerous encounters with sexually victimized persons motivated this study of childhood sexual abuse with regard to its longterm impact on life and health. THEORY, METHODS, AND MATERIAL: Phenomenology is its theoretical frame of references, and its methodological tools are hermeneutics, 34 adult users of two Norwegian incest centres consented to being interviewed in depth about their encounters with the health care system. The audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim. Relevant medical records filled out 16 of the interviews. Likewise, extensive field notes from interview setting were collected.ResultsThe experiences linked to violation, illness and treatment clustered around seven phenomena present in every interview in at least one modality. These were termed sensory imprints, confused judgements, maladaptive adaptations, strained relationships, recognized memories, unheard messages, and reactivated experiences.InterpretationThe impact of childhood sexual abuse was shown to transgress linear time, cause-effect relationship, categorical distinction and individuality. Since these four central preconditions for a correct medical judgement were not provided, harmful, though presumably correct, medical treatment was a frequent result. Consequently, the abused persons were revictimized in medical contexts when asking for help for sickness in the wake of socially silenced sexual violation.

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