Randomized trial of treatment for children with sexual behavior problems: ten-year follow-up.
This study prospectively follows 135 children 5-12 years of age with sexual behavior problems from a randomized trial comparing a 12-session group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with group play therapy and follows 156 general clinic children with nonsexual behavior problems. Ten-year follow-up data on future juvenile and adult arrests and child welfare perpetration reports were collected. The CBT group had significantly fewer future sex offenses than the play therapy group (2% vs. 10%) and did not differ from the general clinic comparison (3%), supporting the use of short-term CBT. There were no group differences in nonsexual offenses (21%). The findings do not support assumptions about persistent or difficult to modify risk and raise questions about policies and practices founded on this assumption.
Carpentier
Melissa Y
MY
Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
Silovsky
Jane F
JF
Chaffin
Mark
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010989:Play Therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*