@article{ref1,
title="Child sexual abuse survivors: differential complex multimodal treatment outcomes for pre-COVID and COVID era cohorts",
journal="Child abuse and neglect",
year="2022",
author="Reeson, Matthew and Polzin, Wanda and Pazderka, Hannah and Agyapong, Vincent and Greenshaw, Andrew J. and Hnatko, Gary and Wei, Yifeng and Szymanski, Laurie and Silverstone, Peter H.",
volume="134",
number="",
pages="e105926-e105926",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a form of early-life trauma that affects youth worldwide. In the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to investigate the potential impact of added stress on already vulnerable populations. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal treatment program on mental health outcomes for youth CSA survivors aged 8-17. Secondary to this, we explored the potential impact of the COVID-19 on treatment outcomes. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants of this study were children and youth aged 8-17 who were engaged in a complex multimodal treatment program specifically designed for youth CSA survivors. <br><br>METHODS: Participants were asked to complete self-report surveys at baseline and at the end of two subsequent treatment rounds. Surveys consisted of measures pertaining to: (1) PTSD, (2) depression, (3) anxiety, (4) quality of life, and (5) self-esteem. <br><br>RESULTS: Median scores improved for all groups at all timepoints for all five domains. For the pre-Covid participants, the largest improvements in the child program were reported in depression (36.6 %, p = 0.05); in the adolescent program anxiety showed the largest improvement (-35.7 %, p = 0.006). Improvements were generally maintained or increased at the end of round two. In almost every domain, the improvements of the pre-COVID group were greater than those of the COVID-I group. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: A complex multimodal treatment program specifically designed for youth CSA survivors has the capacity to improve a number of relevant determinants of mental health and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic may have retraumatized participants, resulting in treatment resistance.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-2134",
doi="10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105926",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105926"
}