title: Sexually abused women after multimodal group therapy: a long-term follow-up study.
abstract: This study reports a long-term follow-up of 38 of 54 (70%) women who had participated in time-limited multimodal group treatment for the psychological sequelae of sexual abuse. The women had been highly symptomatic at the onset and were generally improved following treatment and at follow-up (M = 4.7, SD = 2.0 years). Nonetheless, many remained moderately symptomatic. Previous therapy and pre-therapy level of symptoms predicted a higher level of post-treatment symptoms, while better post-treatment status and younger age predicted fewer symptoms at the time of follow-up. Interpersonal functioning at follow-up was predicted by post-treatment interpersonal functioning. On the whole, clients perceived their interpersonal functioning as better at follow-up than it had been after treatment. Their use of any mental health services was modest in the follow-up period. In general, the long-term follow-up status of these women was encouragingly positive.
authors.affiliation: Tønsberg Psychiatric Center, Ørsnesalle, Norway.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vaa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Egner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sexton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires