Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Sexually Abused Children

Project Title:	Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Sexually Abused Children
Grant/Contract Number:	R10 MH55963
Type of Project:	Research
Funding Agency:	National Institute of Mental Health
Agency Contact Person:	Euthymia Hibbs, Ph.D. (301) 443-4283
Principal Investigator:	Judith Cohen
Mailing Address:	Allegheny General Hospital Medical College of Pennsylvania 320 East North Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Total Project Duration:	08/15/97 to 07/31/02
FY 98 Total Costs:	$366,768
Total Project Budget:	$1,475,000
Child Maltreatment Focus:	Primary
Type of Abuse:	Physical, Emotional, Sexual, Neglect; Differentiated
Sample Size:	240
Age of Subjects:	6-12 years old
Child Abuse and Neglect Focus of This Project:	Treatment and Preventive Interventions
Summary

The goal of this 5-year multi-institutional research project is to compare the efficacy of two treatment approaches for sexually abused children and their parents in decreasing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other symptoms associated with recent sexual abuse. The study will compare a manualized trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral treatment with supportive therapy not focusing on the abuse. Sexually abused children will be randomly assigned to one of these treatments at each of two sites. Children and parents will be provided with 12 weeks of individual therapy. Treatment will be monitored for compliance with each of the respective treatment models. Treatment outcomes that will be assessed include abuse-related attributions and perceptions, parenting practices, familial adaptability and cohesiveness, parent support, and parental emotional reaction to the abuse at pretreatment and posttreatment and 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Treatment at two sites will increase the numbers of children treated and allow for analyses by gender and ethnicity. (Collaboration with R10 MH56224-Deblinger)