Crisis intervention is needed to be done when a client is experiencing crisis in his life. This enables the client to work with the crisis, develop a way to overcome the crisis, and obtain the optimum level of functioning. This also allows the client to cope and still live as normally as he or she could while experiencing or after experiencing crisis in his life. There are several states that require crisis intervention but in this article, we would only discuss the two most important.

Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS)

Rape is the insertion of the penis or any object into the vagina, anus, or mouth without the consent of the other. There is also a sign of aggression, hostility, and violence.

Elements of Rape

  1. Use of threat or force
  2. Lack of consent of the victim
  3. Actual penetration of the penis or any object into the vagina, anus, or mouth.

Types of Rape

  1. Power Rape. This usually done to prove one’s masculinity.
  2. Anger Rape. This is done for retaliation of revenge.
  3. Sadistic Rape. This is done to express erotic feelings.

Rape Trauma Syndrome refers to a group of signs and symptoms experienced by the victim in reaction to rape.

Phases of Rape Trauma Syndrome

  1. Acute phase. The client experiences shock, numbness, and disbelief.
  2. Denial. The victim refuses to talk and is constantly crying.
  3. Heightened anxiety. The client experiences fear, tension, and nightmares.
  4. Stage of Reorganization. The victim’s life slowly normalizes.

Nursing Diagnosis for Rape Trauma Syndrome

Ineffective Individual Coping (Priority nursing diagnosis)

Interventions:
  1. Express or verbalize feelings towards rape.
  2. Preserve the evidence.

Battered Wife Syndrome (BWS)

Battered Wife Syndrome is a cycle of domestic violence characterized by wife-beating by the husband. The beater usually experiences humiliation and aggression which he then manifests towards his wife. The most common trait of abusive men is low self-esteem while, the most common trait of abused women is dependency.

Characteristics of Abusive Husbands

  • They came from violent families
  • Are immature, dependent, and non-assertive
  • Has strong feelings of inadequacy or insecurity

Phases of Battery

  1. Tension-Building Phase. Minor battering incident occurs.
  2. Acute Battering Incident. Serious form of battering happens.
  3. Honeymoon Stage or Aftermath. The husband suddenly becomes attending and loving. The wife, having a dependent attitude, accepts this and stays with her husband. The cycle thus continues and goes back to the first phase.

Nursing Intervention for Battered Wife Syndrome

Provision of shelter should be given to the victim and counseling.