A Complex Multimodal 4-Week Residential Treatment Program Significantly Reduces PTSD Symptoms in Child Sexual Abuse Victims: The Be Brave Ranch

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dc.contributor.authorSilverstone, P. H., Greenspan, F., Silverstone, M., Sawa, H., & Linder, J.
dc.date.accessioned2016-12-13T17:24:13Z
dc.date.available2016-12-13T17:24:13Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractChildhood sexual abuse (CSA) occurs frequently and often has serious long-term sequelae including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which often leads to significantly worse outcomes among CSA survivors. However, the most effective treatment, particularly for younger children, remains uncertain. Research supports trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) in different age groups, and we designed a 4-week residential treatment program for CSA victims aged 8-12. Here we report the outcome from the first 35 children to take part in a complex multimodal program (mean age 10 years old), located at a dedicated facility (the “Be Brave Ranch”), with the primary therapeutic focus being TF-CBT, although several other treatment modalities were also utilized. Of the 35 children, 23 were female and 12 were male. The results show a highly significant (p<0.001) reduction in Child Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale (CPSS) scores from baseline (20.5 ± 1.56) to follow-up (14.6 ± 1.55). Also, the number of children who were above the threshold for PTSD using this scale (a score of 16 or more) fell from 26 at baseline to 14 at the end of the 4-week intervention, suggesting that these improvements are also highly clinically relevant. There was also a significant (p<0.02) decrease in depression and anxiety, as measured by the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-Short Version scale, with scores decreasing from baseline (23.8 ± 1.77) to follow-up (20.6 ± 1.68). These results support the use of this short, but intense, residential intervention for CSA victims. They are also consistent with recent PTSD studies in adults demonstrating better efficacy for brief intensive interventions. Since reducing the number of CSA survivors who develop PTSD can have profound longer-term benefits, this suggests that such an approach might be more widely utilized. Further research should examine longer-term outcomes and effects of additional interventions, as well as comparisons to other therapies and determining if similar programs are useful in older age groups. (Author Abstract)en_US
dc.identifier.citationSilverstone, P. H., Greenspan, F., Silverstone, M., Sawa, H., & Linder, J. (2016). A Complex Multimodal 4-Week Residential Treatment Program Significantly Reduces PTSD Symptoms in Child Sexual Abuse Victims: The Be Brave Ranch. Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior, 4(1), 275-280.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://www.esciencecentral.org/journals/a-complex-multimodal-4week-residential-treatment-program-significantlyreduces-ptsd-symptoms-in-child-sexual-abuse-victims-the-be-b-2375-4494-1000275.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/3111
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherJournal of Child and Adolescent Behavioren_US
dc.subjectchild abuseen_US
dc.subjectsexual abuseen_US
dc.subjectpsychological effectsen_US
dc.subjecttraumaen_US
dc.subjecttherapyen_US
dc.subjectresearchen_US
dc.subjectInternational Resourcesen_US
dc.subjectCanadaen_US
dc.titleA Complex Multimodal 4-Week Residential Treatment Program Significantly Reduces PTSD Symptoms in Child Sexual Abuse Victims: The Be Brave Ranchen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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