What percentage of rape survivors developed an acute stress disorder within 12 days after the assault?

• A. 60%
• B. 94%
• C. 30%
• D. 10%

Answer: (B)

Acute stress disorder manifests very soon after a traumatic event, with symptoms arising within days to about a month. After a traumatic event as severe as rape, the early reaction tends to be extremely common, so studies looking at rape survivors show a very high rate of ASD symptoms within the first couple of weeks. The figure around 94% reflects this intense immediate impact, meaning that the vast majority experience ASD-like symptoms within roughly 12 days.

This rapid onset helps differentiate ASD from longer-term conditions: ASD is the acute phase that occurs in the first month after the trauma, whereas PTSD is diagnosed only if symptoms persist beyond a month. The high prevalence in this context also underlines why early support and evaluation after rape are so important. The other options—lower percentages—don’t match the typical observed immediacy and pervasiveness of the acute reaction in rape survivors.