A comparison of short-term group and individual therapy for sexually abused women.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of 10 sessions of group therapy with that of 10 sessions of individual therapy in a sample of 86 adult women seeking treatment for the effects of childhood sexual abuse.


METHODS
Participants were randomly assigned to the 2 treatment modalities and tested at assessment, pretherapy following a 10-week wait condition, posttherapy, and 6-month and 12-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Participants had fewer symptoms and better psychosocial functioning posttherapy and were further improved at the 6- and 12-month follow-up. Neither treatment modality was superior to the other. Approximately one-half of the sample sought further treatment during the follow-up periods.


CONCLUSIONS
Improvement in symptoms and functioning was associated with short-term treatment in both modalities, but many patients remained distressed and required further treatment. Future research should investigate whether sexually abused women who meet criteria for specific diagnoses require more focused and/or longer-term therapy.
Stalker
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CA
Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario. cstalker@machl.wlu.ca
Fry
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D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012649:Self Concept; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology