[Sexuell assaults in therapeutic relationships: risk factors, consequences and legal steps].
About 10 years ago, an initial empirical study was conducted in Germany about this topic. Since then, a penal code, paragraph 174 c StGB, was decreed, prohibiting sexual contact between therapists and their patients. A current follow-up survey was conducted in order to determine whether the results of previous surveys concerning situation conditions and after-effects converge with current results and if so, to what extent. Secondly, the survey was conducted to determine whether or not changes in the way the involved patients and authorities deal with this type of incident are evident. To ensure the comparability of the data, an online version of the Questionnaire about Sexual Contacts in Psychotherapy and Psychiatry (SKPP; Becker-Fischer, Fischer u. Jerouschek) was created and a survey of N = 77 affected patients was conducted. The majority of the participants in the study reported a serious decline in their overall well being following the incident, however, only very few undertook legal steps; only in three cases did it come to a legal procedure. The assumption that sexual contacts in psychotherapy result in extremely damaging consequences to patients, which the first study already revealed, was affirmed in the follow-up examination. Despite the changed legal situation, however, therapists in Germany are still not held legally responsible more often than they were 10 years ago.
Eichenberg
Christiane
C
Institut für Klinische Psychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik, Universität zu Köln, Köln. eichenberg@uni-koeln.de
Dorniak
Judith
J
Fischer
Gottfried
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011902:Rape / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires