Psychological treatment of recent and non-recent adult female victims of sexual assault

The purpose of this study was to evaluate an individual 10-session cognitive-behavioral programme for the treatment of adult female victims of sexual assault. 138 Victims (107 recent and 31 non-recent victims) participated in the study voluntarily, and 84 completed treatment. Participants were assessed with the PTSD Severity Scale, the STAI, the MFS-III, the BDI, the HDRS, the Self-Esteem Scale and the Misadjustment Scale. Independent assessments were made at pretreatment, posttreatment and 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. In the treatment completers the success rate in PTSD was of 100% and of 65.6% and 60%, respectively, in emotional trouble and in sexual avoidance at the posttreatment assessment. The results were maintained at 12-month follow-up. When recent and non-recent victims were compared, the success rate was high in both groups, but slightly lower among the non-recent victims at 3- and 12-month follow-up. However, the drop-out rate among non-recent victims was rather high. The proposed treatment was effective, but a future challenge is to design motivational strategies for treatment and to improve the therapy for non-recent victims.