Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, or Rape

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

If you have made an appointment with your health professional, you may be able to get the most from your visit by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• Have you been hit, slapped, kicked, or otherwise physically hurt by someone?
• Has anyone forced you to have sexual activities?
• Have you ever been emotionally or physically abused by your partner or someone important to you?
• How long have you felt threatened by the violent behaviour of someone else?
• Are you the victim of angry outbursts or violent actions?
• Do another person's violent outbursts occur at regularly spaced time periods?
• Has the abuse increased recently?
• What kind of injuries has the abuse caused?
• Does the abuser control most or all your activities every day?
• What triggers the abuser's violent behaviour?
• Has the abuser threatened violence against your children? Is he or she violent toward your children?
• Has the abuser hurt a pet or destroyed things that belong to you?
• Is the person who harmed you using any illegal drugs or alcohol?
• Does the person who harmed you have access to guns or other violent weapons?
• Does your family have a history of violent behaviour?
• Has anyone in your family ever been diagnosed with depression or a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or personality disorder?
• Do you have any risk factors that increase your chance of becoming a victim of violent behaviour?

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: April 24, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine
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