Psychologic responses of incestuous daughters: emerging patterns.

Our review of the literature on the impact of paternal incest with the daughter showed several patterns of results. Past studies of girls soon after the termination of or exposure to incest suggest guilt, depression, behavior disorders, and occasionally hysterical "seizures" as possible reactions. Those exploring the long-term consequences point toward deficits in sexual functioning and sexual identity. A third group of studies, however, indicates that some victims of father-daughter incest exhibit no apparent psychopathology. The contribution of prevailing knowledge to current therapeutic practice is discussed.