NCJ Number
215884
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2006 Pages: 75-88
Date Published
January 2006
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article reports on an evaluation of the effectiveness of an individualized treatment program for five adult males who had experienced childhood sexual abuse.
Abstract
Most participants reported decreases in self-blame in response to treatment. By the end of the self-blame treatment phase, most participants' ratings were noticeably lower than those reported at the start of treatment. During this treatment phase, some participants also reported decreased anger and anxiety, but the changes were not as significant as those for self-blame. Changes in participants' anxiety levels during the anxiety treatment phase were not as clear as those for self-blame and anger. Although most men reported decreased anxiety by the end of this treatment phase, the changes did not apparently occur in response to any particular treatment component. The ages of the five men ranged from 23 to 37 years old. Each had disclosed at least one incident of child sexual abuse, defined as sexual contact prior to age 16 with an individual who was at least 5 years older. A multiple-baseline approach focused on the target behaviors of abuse-related self-blame, anger, and anxiety. The manual used in the treatment focused on self-blame, anger, and anxiety among adult males with histories of child sexual abuse. The overall treatment involved a cognitive-behavioral approach in which each man examined the basis, validity, and impact of their self-blame, anger, and anxiety and also learned strategies for reducing or better managing these feelings. Treatment sessions were scheduled to occur twice a week, but some individuals could only attend weekly sessions due to work schedules. Throughout baseline and treatment, participants completed daily self-ratings on abuse-related self-blame, anger, and anxiety. 5 figures and 26 references