title: Treatment for sexually abused children and adolescents.
abstract: The authors review research demonstrating the variable effects of childhood sexual abuse, the need for intervention, and the effectiveness of available treatment models. The well-controlled treatment-outcome studies reviewed do not focus on sensationalistic fringe treatments that treat sexually abused children as a special class of patients. Instead, studies demonstrate empirical evidence for extending and modifying treatment models from mainstream clinical child psychology to sexually abused children. The authors propose a continuum of interventions to meet the needs of this heterogeneous group. Interventions range from psychoeducation and screening, to short-term, abuse-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy with family involvement, to more comprehensive long-term plans for multiproblem cases. Last discussed are gaps in the research and suggestions for future research to address the pressing dilemmas faced by clinicians and policymakers.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance 90509, USA. ksaywitz@ucla.edu
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Saywitz
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mannarino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berliner
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome