Early intervention service for non-abusing parents of victims of child sexual abuse: Pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Childhood sexual abuse is a non-specific risk factor for psychopathological disorders in childhood and later life. The response of non-abusing parents to disclosure of abuse may influence the child's outcome. Aims To assess the level of psychopathological symptoms in parents and children following disclosure of sexual abuse and the changes following a parental treatment intervention.


METHODS
Parents completed standardised rating scales about their own and their child's symptoms. These were repeated following the intervention.


RESULTS
Thirty-nine parents of 31 children completed scales at the baseline assessment; 18 repeated these following interventions. Initially, parents reported high rates of psychopathological symptoms in themselves and their children, which were reduced following the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the high rates of psychopathological symptoms found in parents of children following disclosure of sexual abuse. Children clinically identified for intervention had higher measured levels of psychopathological symptoms. Targeted treatment interventions are needed.
Forbes
Fiona
F
Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh. University of Birmingham, UK. fiona.forbes@lpct.scot.nhs.uk
Duffy
John C
JC
Mok
Jacqueline
J
Lemvig
Jette
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019548:Crime Victims; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors