Citation

King NJ, Tonge BJ, Mullen P, Myerson N, Heyne D, Rollings S, Martin R, Ollendick TH. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 2000; 39(11): 1347-1355.

Affiliation

Faculty of Education, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. neville.king@education.monash.edu.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/00004583-200011000-00008

PMID

11068889

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of child and caregiver participation in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of sexually abused children with posttraumatic stress symptoms. METHOD: Thirty-six sexually abused children (aged 5-17 years) were randomly assigned to a child-alone cognitive-behavioral treatment condition, a family cognitive-behavioral treatment condition, or a waiting-list control condition. RESULTS: Compared with controls, children who received treatment exhibited significant improvements in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and self-reports of fear and anxiety. Significant improvements also occurred in relation to parent-completed measures and clinician ratings of global functioning. In general, parental involvement did not improve the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Maintenance of improvement was evident at a 12-week follow-up assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive-behavioral treatment was useful, but further research is required on caregiver involvement.

Language: en