BASED UPON INTERVIEWS WITH RAPE VICTIMS, THREE DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORIES OF SEXUAL TRAUMA WERE IDENTIFIED. THE FIRST, RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME, DEVELOPS FROM THE ATTACK AND INCLUDES AN ACUTE PHASE OF DISORGANIZATION OF THE VICTIM'S LIFESTYLE AND A LONG-TERM PROCESS OF REORGANIZATION OF THAT LIFESTYLE. THE ACUTE PHASE INVOLVES MANY PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS, ESPECIALLY GASTROINTESTINAL IRRITABILITY; THE LONG-TERM PROCESS INCLUDES CHANGES SUCH AS MOVING TO NEW LOCATIONS, AND DEALING WITH REPETITIVE NIGHTMARES ARE PHOBIAS. TWO SUBCATEGORIES OF RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME ARE COMPOUNDED REACTION AND SILENT REACTION. THE SECOND DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORY IS ACCESSORY-TO-SEX REACTION. THE VICTIMS OF THIS SEXUAL SITUATION CONTRIBUTE IN A SECONDARY WAY TO THE OFFENSE. IN ALL CASES, THE OFFENDER STANDS IN A RELATIONSHIP OF POWER OVER THE VICTIM AND GAINS ACCESS TO THE VICTIM BY PRESSURING TO TAKE AWAY MATERIAL GOODS OR BY PRESSURING A SOCIALLY-DEPRIVED VICTIM TO ACCEPT HUMAN CONTACT. TRAUMA OFTEN SHOWS ITSELF THROUGH A GRADUAL SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WITHDRAWAL FROM USUAL ACTIVITIES. FINALLY, THE SEX-STRESS SITUATION IS AN ANXIETY REACTION THAT RESULTS FROM SEXUAL ACTIVITY TO WHICH BOTH PARTIES INITIALLY CONSENTED, BUT SOMETHING LATER 'WENT WRONG', SUCH AS THE MAN DEMANDING PERVERSION OR USING VIOLENCE. DIAGNOSIS IN SEXUAL TRAUMA PROVIDES A METHOD OF LOGICALLY ORDERING THE PERSON'S DIFFICULITIES, WHETHER EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL, OR SEXUAL. CLINICAL JUDGMENT CAN BE USED TO FORMULATE TREATMENT PLANS AND GOALS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT PROFESSIONALS DEALING WITH VICTIMS ESPECIALLY NURSES, ENGAGE IN SIMILAR STUDIES. REFERENCES INCLUDED. (LWM)