Citation

Fegert JM. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2007; 50(1): 78-89.

Vernacular Title

Sexueller Missbrauch an Kindern und Jugendlichen.

Affiliation

Universitätsklinikum, Ulm, BRD. joerg.fegert@uniklinik-ulm.de

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00103-007-0111-y

PMID

17177097

Abstract

The present paper gives an overview on the development of professional discourse on sexual abuse over the last 20 years in the field of child protection. After the introduction, definitions from different professional perspectives (civil law, criminal law, psychotherapy, counseling, etc.) are given. Based on these definitions an epidemiological range of prevalence figures is described. In the literature, rates ranging from 6 to 25 % in girls and 2 to 8 % in boy as victims of sexual abuse can be observed. Psychiatric consequences of sexual abuse are described based on an overview of the literature. Diagnostic approaches to posttraumatic problems are discussed and distinguished from obsolete measures. Some neurobiological findings are presented. Finally the foundations of counseling, psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy of behavioral of symptoms and PTSD are discussed on the bases of a literature review of controlled clinical trials. In conclusion, further developments in psychotherapy and research are discussed for the German practical child protection field.

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