Approximately 44 percent of female clients of a health center crisis service reported a childhood history of sexual victimization. Prior victimization was associated with increased dissociation, sleep disturbance, tension, sexual problems, and anger on a crisis symptom checklist. Also listed were greater current use of psychoactive medications and more frequent histories of suicide attempts, substance addiction, and revictimization. Long-term psychological effects of sexual abuse are interpreted within both a developmental context and in terms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Implications of the current data and related literature for mental health workers are briefly discussed. 2 tables, 3 notes, and approximately 50 references. (Author abstract modified)