Cognitive behavioral interventions for sexually abused children exhibiting PTSD symptomatology

This investigation examined the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral intervention with 4 sexually abused children exhibiting posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), using a multiple baseline design. Participants ranged in age from 8 to 10 years. Intervention effectiveness was measured with pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up assessments of PTSD symptomatology and affective (depression and anxiety) measures. In addition, these instruments were administered during baseline and prior to each treatment session. The intervention focused on the training of relaxation skills, positive self-talk, and cognitive restructuring. All 4 participants reported decreases in their PTSD symptomatology. The 3 participants who had elevated levels of depression and anxiety during baseline showed decreases with treatment. The results of this study suggest that cognitive behavioral techniques can be an effective approach for working with this population.