Treatment Options for Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy is evidence based treatment for PTSD, depression, and behavior problems related to traumatic experiences including sexual trauma.
Full Answer
Does childhood sexual abuse history affect the outcome of trauma-focused treatment for PTSD?
Conclusions: The results do not support the hypothesis that the presence of a history of childhood sexual abuse has a detrimental impact on the outcome of first-line (intensive) trauma-focused treatments for PTSD.
What is childhood sexual abuse and how does it relate to CPTSD?
This article will concentrate on what childhood sexual abuse is and how it relates to complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). It is simply human nature that no one wants to admit that children can and are sexually abused. After all, to admit that children are mistreated in such heinous ways makes us feel heartsick.
Can We help children with PTSD/trauma?
The intervention was evaluated for children or teens experiencing sexual abuse or assault as the index trauma, in one or more randomized controlled treatment trial that documented significant treatment effects for improving PTSD/trauma symptoms for this population;
What is the relationship between PTSD and sexual assault?
As the level of distress is strongly correlated to PTSD symptoms, an attempt to decrease levels of distress immediately following sexual assault may result in a more positive treatment outcome. When survivors seek medical assistance, the forensic rape exam can be very traumatizing (32).
Why is not understanding sexual abuse harmful?
Not understanding what childhood sexual abuse is can harm people because they do not understand that what they experienced was indeed abuse and not normal. There are three types of sexual abuse of a child, contact, non-contact, and online.
What are the physical signs of sexual abuse in childhood?
Some physical signs of childhood sexual abuse include: A child having a sexually transmitted infection. Signs of damage to the child’s genital area such as unexplained bleeding, bruising, or blood on sheets, clothing, or underwear. Behavioral signs might include:
What is the primary culprit in childhood abuse?
Emotional dysregulation is the primary culprit as survivors of childhood abuse who formed CPTSD have a horrible time with emotions, both experiencing and controlling them. Many other victims of childhood sexual abuse and CPSD have persistent sadness, anger, and suicidal thoughts.
What is non contact sexual abuse?
Non-contact abuse means a child is abused without being physically touched by an abuser. This includes in-person and online. Non-contact sexual abuse includes: Exposing of genitalia to a child. Exposing breasts to a child. Showing a child pornography. Making a child watch sexual acts.
What is the trigger for CPTSD?
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) forms in response to chronic traumatization over months or years. Sexual abuse of a child that is repeated and where the victim feels they cannot escape is often the trigger for CPTSD.
How many children are sexually abused on the internet?
1 in 5 children are solicited for sex on the internet. Nearly 70% of all assault (this includes adults) happens to kids age 17 and under. More than 20% of victims of childhood sexual abuse are the age of 8 or under. Many victims of childhood sexual abuse will never disclose their abuse to anyone else, choosing instead to keep ...
What is the definition of a child being forced to make or view sexual images or videos?
Forcing a child to make or view sexual images or videos. The distribution of images or videos of a child pornography. Forcing a child to carry out sexual conversations or activities online. Remember, a child is an innocent victim in all the above circumstances as they have no control over what an adult will do.
What are the symptoms of child sexual abuse?
Some child sexual abuse survivors may show symptoms of PTSD, including agitated behavior, frightening dreams, and repetitive play in which aspects of the abuse are expressed. They might exhibit other fears and anxieties or lose developmental skills and begin bed-wetting or thumb-sucking.
What are the long term effects of sexual abuse?
These may include: PTSD and/or anxiety. Depression and thoughts of suicide. Sexual anxiety and disorders, including promiscuity.
Why do some children believe that the abuse is their fault?
Some children believe the abuse is their fault or that the perpetrator chose them because they must have wanted it or because there is something wrong with them. If the abuser was of the same-sex, children (and parents) might question their sexual orientation and wonder if they are "gay.".
How old do you have to be to be a perpetrator of child abuse?
For example, in some states perpetrators must be at least five years older than their victims for the behavior to be considered child sexual abuse.
What is child advocacy?
Also, many cities have child advocacy centers where a child and his or her family can receive crisis intervention; be interviewed in a sensitive, comfortable environment; make the report to legal authorities; and be directed to a multidisciplinary team skilled in child sexual abuse.
Do you report child abuse to authorities?
Most states have mandatory reporting laws that require professionals to report suspected child abuse to authorities. Professionals should not only provide crisis counseling to the child, but also help the non-offending caregiver attend sensitively to their child in a way that is helpful to her or his recovery.
Is sexual abuse confusing?
Sexual abuse can be very confusing for children. A child who is used or manipulated by a trusted adult might learn that the only way for them to be attended to or loved is for them to give something of themselves or give up their dignity.
What is the prevalence rate of PTSD?
PTSD prevalence rates of CSA are approximately 37 % -53 %. Several other psychiatric sequelae of CSA exist.
What is CSA in psychology?
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) involves multiple complex factors that make the evaluation of therapeutic interventions especially complicated. PTSD prevalence rates of CSA are approximately 37 % -53 %. Several other psychiatric sequelae of CSA exist. CSA appears to disrupt brain and body physiology. One co-located service delivery model reported a 52 % linkage rate of CSA survivors with mental health treatment. This article reviews current literature on the treatment of CSA, including psychosocial interventions, pharmacotherapy, and early preventative interventions. It also provides an update on the short- and long-term sequelae of CSA and implications for future research directions. A literature search of papers published in the last 3 years was conducted using the keywords treatment, sexual abuse, childhood, epigenetics, resilience and review, and searching the following databases: PsycInfo, PubMed, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and Centers for Disease Control.
What is child sexual abuse?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines childhood sexual abuse as “any completed or attempted (noncompleted) sexual act, sexual contact with, or exploitation of a child by a caregiver” ( 2 ). The CDC specifically defines the different types of sexual abuse, ...
Why is it important to know about PTSD?
Awareness of the specific symptoms of PTSD and other childhood sexual abuse–related problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, behavior problems) is important to ensure that children are assessed accurately and receive the appropriate treatment.
What are the effects of sexual abuse on children?
Childhood sexual abuse has been associated with increased risk for a multitude of acute and long-term psychological and physical health problems, including depression, posttraumatic stress, and substance abuse problems, as well as sexual revictimization in adolescence and adulthood ( 12, 13 ).
What are the factors that increase the risk of sexual abuse in children?
Other factors associated with increased risk for childhood sexual abuse include lower socioeconomic status, residing in a home with a single parent, being in foster care, parental substance abuse or mental illness, living in a rural area, and domestic violence ( 19, 21, 22 ).
What is exploitative use of a child?
This may include but is not limited to: the inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity; the exploitative use of a child in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices; the exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials.
What is the definition of a child not fully comprehending sexual activity?
The involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violate [s] the laws or social taboos of society.
What are the different types of sexual abuse?
The CDC specifically defines the different types of sexual abuse, differentiating between those in volving direct physical contact, with and without penetration, and noncontact sexual abuse, such as voyeurism, exhibitionism, or exposing the child to pornography.
What is the treatment for sexual abuse?
Individual therapy. The type of treatment of sexual abuse chosen and the specifics of what will happen in that therapy depends on many factors including the age of the victim and the type and severity of the sexual abuse. Art therapy is commonly used with young children who have trouble expressing what happened directly.
How often do people recover from sexual abuse?
Sexual Abuse Recovery. People recover from child sexual abuse every day but most require treatment for child sexual abuse. Unfortunately, most won't receive sexual abuse therapy until they are adults, as only about 30% of child sexual abuse is reported by children. Nevertheless, there is treatment for child sexual abuse available ...
How to get over sexual abuse?
While people may jump from stage to stage and not necessarily process things neatly in discrete stages, there are basically three steps to sexual abuse therapy and recovery. These steps are experienced somewhat differently by children and adults. 1. Goals and Basic Safety. Get a “roadmap” of treatment and set goals.
What is the first stage of sexual abuse?
Stage one is not about processing memories of the sexual abuse but rather preparing the person and strengthening her (or him) to the point where she will be able to process those memories. Remembrance and Mourning. Reviewing and discussing memories to lessen their impact.
What are the different types of therapy for children?
For children and adolescents, three general types of therapy are common: Family therapy – needed in many cases but young children particularly require the intense participation of the caregivers. Group therapy – more common for adolescents who are more independent. Individual therapy .
Is there treatment for child sexual abuse?
Nevertheless, there is treatment for child sexual abuse available for both children and adult survivors of sexual abuse.
What is PTSD related to childhood abuse?
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to childhood abuse is associated with features of affect regulation and interpersonal disturbances that substantially contribute to impairment. Existing treatments do not address these problems or the difficulties they may pose in the exploration of trauma memories, an efficacious ...
How prevalent is PTSD?
PTSD is particularly prevalent among women who have experienced childhood abuse and related interpersonal violence, with rates of the disorder ranging from 26% to 52% ( 2 – 4 ). PTSD arising from childhood abuse is particularly pernicious because it is associated with multiple forms of trauma in both childhood and adulthood, ...
Is PTSD phase based?
For a PTSD population with chronic and early-life trauma, a phase-based skills-to-exposure treatment was associated with greater benefits and fewer adverse effects than treatments that excluded either skills training or exposure.
Selection Criteria
Criteria for selecting effective interventions for child sexual abuse include the following:
Effective Interventions
The following treatments have been shown to be effective in improving trauma-specific outcomes for children and/or teens after sexual abuse or assault (listed alphabetically):
Problematic Sexual Behavior-Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for School-Age Children
PSB-CBT-S is a family-oriented, cognitive-behavioral, psychoeducational, and supportive treatment group designed to reduce or eliminate incidents of problematic sexual behavior.
Risk Reduction through Family Therapy
RRFT is an integrative approach to addressing the heterogeneous symptoms experienced by trauma-exposed adolescents. It targets a broad range of trauma-related psychopathology (e.g., PTSD, depression) and risk behaviors (substance use/abuse, risky sexual behavior, non-suicidal self injury).
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma and their parents or caregivers.
Risk Factors
Impact
Screening and Identifying Childhood Sexual Abuse
Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatments
Psychopharmacological Interventions
- As noted above, evidence-based trauma-focused mental health treatment interventions are the first line of treatment for symptoms related to childhood sexual abuse. However, for children who have severe or persistent symptoms despite psychotherapy, medications may be warranted, both to ameliorate these difficulties and to generate a more positive tr...
Conclusions