Cognitive behavioral treatment for sexually abused children suffering post-traumatic stress: preliminary findings.

The present investigation examined the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral treatment program designed for sexually abused children suffering post-traumatic stress disorder. Nineteen girls who suffered contact sexual abuse and met DSM-III-R criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder were included in the study. Subjects ranged in age from 3 to 16 years old. Structured interviews were conducted to assess the presence or absence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms before, during, and following the abuse. Additionally, parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist, and subjects at least 6 years of age were administered the Child Depression Inventory and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at the initial evaluation and again approximately 2 to 3 weeks later before the initiation of treatment. The baseline data collected at these two points were compared, and no significant changes were found over time. The above measures were readministered following 12 treatment sessions. The results revealed significant improvements at post-treatment on all measures.

[1]  E. Foa,et al.  Post-traumatic stress disorder in sexually abused children. , 1988, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[2]  J. Lyons.  Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Review of the Literature , 1987, Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP.

[3]  J. Berman,et al.  The outcome of psychotherapy with children. , 1985, Psychological bulletin.

[4]  A. Clarke,et al.  Therapeutic approach to sexual abuse. , 1985, Archives of disease in childhood.

[5]  P. Krener.  After incest: secondary prevention? , 1985, Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry.

[6]  J. Sibert,et al.  How long do we need to observe head injuries in hospital? , 1984, Archives of disease in childhood.

[7]  C. Edelbrock,et al.  Manual for the Child: Behavior Checklist and Revised Child Behavior Profile , 1983 .

[8]  J. Fairbank,et al.  Flooding for combat-related stress disorders: Assessment of anxiety reduction across traumatic memories , 1982 .

[9]  A. Yates.  Children eroticized by incest. , 1982, The American journal of psychiatry.

[10]  S. Sgroi.  Handbook of clinical intervention in child sexual abuse , 1981 .

[11]  J. Garbarino,et al.  Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal , 1980 .

[12]  A. Burgess,et al.  Adaptive strategies and recovery from rape. , 1979, The American journal of psychiatry.

[13]  J. Schulterbrandt,et al.  Depression in Childhood: Diagnosis, Treatment and Conceptual Models , 1977 .

[14]  R. E. Helfer,et al.  Child Abuse and Neglect: The Family and the Community , 1976 .

[15]  S. Turner,et al.  Handbook of clinical behavior therapy , 1992 .

[16]  E. Foa,et al.  Post-traumatic stress in sexually abused, physically abused, and nonabused children. , 1989, Child abuse & neglect.

[17]  Elaine A. Blechman,et al.  Behavior modification with women , 1984 .

[18]  J. Greer,et al.  Victims of sexual aggression : treatment of children, women, and men , 1984 .

[19]  A. H. Tyler,et al.  Sexually abused children: Identification and suggestions for intervention. , 1983 .

[20]  C. Adams-Tucker.  A socioclinical overview of 28 sex-abused children , 1981 .

[21]  H. Giarretto.  Humanistic Treatment of Father-Daughter Incest * , 1977 .

[22]  G. Patterson.  Families : Applications of Social Learning to Family Life , 1975 .

[23]  D. Scherl,et al.  Crisis intervention with victims of rape , 1972 .

[24]  J. H. Curtis,et al.  Learning Theory and Behavior , 1960 .