Studies of patterns of reaction and recovery for rape victims have yielded consistent findings. Most rape victims experience a strong acute reaction that lasts for several months. By 3 months after the crime, much of the initial turmoil has decreased and stabilized. Some victims continue to experience chronic problems for an indefinite period. These problems fall under the categories of fear/post- traumatic stress disorder, depression, loss of self-esteem, social adjustment problems, sexual disorders, and other anxiety disorders (social phobia or obsessive-compulsive disorder). A wide range of variables have been examined in an effort to predict those women who will need more assistance in recovering from rape, as well as to obtain more information that may play a role in theory development. The variables that determine the severity of victim reactions to sexual assault include prior psychological functioning and life stressors; within-assault variables such as acquaintanceship status, level of violence, and within-crime victim reactions; and postassault variables such as social support and participation in the criminal justice system. Recommendations are offered for future research and theory development. 97 references