Group Treatment of Sexually Abused Adolescent Girls: A Review of Outcome Studies

The developmental issues of adolescence make their treatment issues distinctly different from those of either adults or children (Cole & Putnam, 1992 Cole, P. M. and Putnam, F. W. 1992. Effect of incest on self and social functioning: A developmental psychopathology perspective. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(2): 174–84. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Group treatment is considered an ideal modality for adolescent victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) because of adolescents' emphasis on peer relationships in their struggle for identity development (Corder, 2000 Corder, B. F. 2000. Structured psychotherapy groups for sexually abused children and adolescents, Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Press. [Google Scholar]). A review of outcome studies from 1985 to 2005 revealed only 10 studies that specifically addressed group therapy for sexually abused girls ages 11 to 18. The groups reviewed varied in length of treatment, treatment setting, research methodology and treatment model, including cognitive behavioral, psycho-educational, psychodrama, multidimensional, and Rogerian/humanistic groups. Only 4 utilized comparison or control groups. Seven of the groups took place in outpatient settings, while 3 took place in inpatient or residential settings. Psychodrama models resulted in decreases in depressive symptoms, while cognitive behavioral groups and multidimensional groups incorporating graduated exposure were associated with PTSD symptom reduction. While none of the studies reported significant changes in externalizing behavior, at least according to parent reports, several group models resulted in significant reductions in group members' self-reported anxiety symptoms and increases in self-reported self-esteem.