Roberta Hatzenberger

Avaliação psicológica em casos de abuso sexual na infância e adolescência

A avaliacao psicologica de criancas e adolescentes vitimas de abuso sexual e um desafio para os profissionais, devido a complexidade do fenomeno. O presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar os resultados de um modelo de avaliacao psicologica. O estudo foi realizado com 10 meninas com idade entre nove e 13 anos. As participantes foram clinicamente avaliadas em tres encontros individuais. Os resultados apontaram que a maioria das meninas foi vitima de abuso sexual por pelo um ano ate revelarem a situacao a alguem. As meninas apresentaram sintomas de transtorno do estresse pos-traumatico, depressao e ansiedade. O metodo de avaliacao utilizado mostrou-se efetivo, possibilitando a formacao de vinculo, o conhecimento da historia do abuso sexual e a identificacao dos sintomas psicologicos decorrentes.

Grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental para crianças e adolescentes vítimas de abuso sexual

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of a cognitive behavioral group therapy model among female children and adolescents victims of sexual abuse. METHODS A non-randomized study with intragroup comparisons over time was carried out. Female children and teenagers from nine to 16 years of age (N=40) were clinically assessed in three individual meetings in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, between 2006 and 2008. The group therapy comprised 16 semi-structured sessions. Psychological instruments were applied to investigate symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, child stress, beliefs and perception of the abuse experience before, during and after the intervention. The results were analyzed through statistical tests for repeated measures. A comparative analysis was carried out with the results of the pretest between the groups that received group psychotherapy immediately after the sexual abuse was reported and those who were waiting for psychological support. RESULTS The assessment of the impact of the intervention revealed that cognitive behavioral group therapy significantly reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, child stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, the intervention enabled the participants to modify beliefs of guilt, low degrees of trust and credibility, and was effective in reducing psychological symptoms and changing distorted beliefs and perception in regard to the abuse. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive behavioral group therapy was effective in reducing psychological symptoms in sexually abused girls.OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos do modelo de grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental para criancas e adolescentes do sexo feminino vitimas de abuso sexual. METODOS: Foi utilizado delineamento nao-randomizado intragrupos de series temporais. Criancas e adolescentes do sexo feminino com idade entre nove e 16 anos (N=40) da regiao metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RS), foram clinicamente avaliadas em tres encontros individuais, de 2006 a 2008. A grupoterapia consistiu de 16 sessoes semi-estruturadas. Instrumentos psicologicos investigaram sintomas de ansiedade, depressao, transtorno do estresse pos-traumatico, stress infantil e crencas e percepcoes da crianca em relacao a experiencia abusiva antes, durante e apos a intervencao. Os resultados foram analisados por meio de testes estatisticos para medidas repetidas. Foi realizada uma analise comparativa dos resultados do pre-teste entre os grupos que receberam atendimento psicologico em grupo imediato apos a denuncia do abuso e aquelas que aguardaram por atendimento. RESULTADOS: A analise do impacto da intervencao revelou que a grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental reduziu significativamente sintomas de depressao, ansiedade, stress infantil e transtorno do estresse pos-traumatico. Alem disso, a intervencao contribuiu para a reestruturacao de crencas de culpa, baixa confianca e credibilidade, sendo efetivo para a reducao de sintomas psicologicos e alteracao de crencas e percepcoes distorcidas sobre o abuso. CONCLUSOES: A grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental mostrou ser efetiva para a reducao de sintomas psicologicos de criancas e adolescentes vitimas de abuso sexual.

Cognitive behavioral group therapy for sexually abused girls

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of a cognitive behavioral group therapy model among female children and adolescents victims of sexual abuse. METHODS A non-randomized study with intragroup comparisons over time was carried out. Female children and teenagers from nine to 16 years of age (N=40) were clinically assessed in three individual meetings in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, between 2006 and 2008. The group therapy comprised 16 semi-structured sessions. Psychological instruments were applied to investigate symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, child stress, beliefs and perception of the abuse experience before, during and after the intervention. The results were analyzed through statistical tests for repeated measures. A comparative analysis was carried out with the results of the pretest between the groups that received group psychotherapy immediately after the sexual abuse was reported and those who were waiting for psychological support. RESULTS The assessment of the impact of the intervention revealed that cognitive behavioral group therapy significantly reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, child stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, the intervention enabled the participants to modify beliefs of guilt, low degrees of trust and credibility, and was effective in reducing psychological symptoms and changing distorted beliefs and perception in regard to the abuse. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive behavioral group therapy was effective in reducing psychological symptoms in sexually abused girls.OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos do modelo de grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental para criancas e adolescentes do sexo feminino vitimas de abuso sexual. METODOS: Foi utilizado delineamento nao-randomizado intragrupos de series temporais. Criancas e adolescentes do sexo feminino com idade entre nove e 16 anos (N=40) da regiao metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RS), foram clinicamente avaliadas em tres encontros individuais, de 2006 a 2008. A grupoterapia consistiu de 16 sessoes semi-estruturadas. Instrumentos psicologicos investigaram sintomas de ansiedade, depressao, transtorno do estresse pos-traumatico, stress infantil e crencas e percepcoes da crianca em relacao a experiencia abusiva antes, durante e apos a intervencao. Os resultados foram analisados por meio de testes estatisticos para medidas repetidas. Foi realizada uma analise comparativa dos resultados do pre-teste entre os grupos que receberam atendimento psicologico em grupo imediato apos a denuncia do abuso e aquelas que aguardaram por atendimento. RESULTADOS: A analise do impacto da intervencao revelou que a grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental reduziu significativamente sintomas de depressao, ansiedade, stress infantil e transtorno do estresse pos-traumatico. Alem disso, a intervencao contribuiu para a reestruturacao de crencas de culpa, baixa confianca e credibilidade, sendo efetivo para a reducao de sintomas psicologicos e alteracao de crencas e percepcoes distorcidas sobre o abuso. CONCLUSOES: A grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental mostrou ser efetiva para a reducao de sintomas psicologicos de criancas e adolescentes vitimas de abuso sexual.

Avaliação de um modelo de intervenção psicológica para meninas vítimas de abuso sexual

The sexual abuse against children and adolescents is an important public health problem. In this way, it is necessary to develop studies that evaluate the models effectiveness of psychological intervention. The present study aimed to evaluate a group therapy, based on cognitive-behavioral approach to the girls who are victims of sexual abuse. Ten girls from 9 to 13 years old intrafamilial victimized by sexual abuse participated in this study. The type of sexual abuse varied among the cases: manipulation of genital and sexual harassment appeared in seven cases, and complete intercourse with penetration on the other three. The group therapy model evaluated was constituted by 20 sessions with semi-structured activities. Repeated measures were used to analyze the before, during and after intervention data on depression, anxiety, stress, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. A significant reduction of those aspects was found, as well as the restructuring of faiths related to the abuse.

Entrevista clínica com crianças e adolescentes vítimas de abuso sexual

Clinic interview with children and adolescents sexually abused. The sexual abuse against children and adolescents is an actual public health concern. The complexity of phenomenon requires special training of professionals who work in the clinic evaluation of victims and intervention. This study aims to provide theoretical and practical information about the clinic interview with victims of child sexual abuse, aiming at the attainment of the abusive experience report. An interview protocol is presented and the aspects discussed include: sexual abuse potential outcomes, the interview setting, the professional attitude, and children’s

Terapia de grupo congnitivo-comportamental para niñas y adolescentes víctimas de abuso sexual

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of a cognitive behavioral group therapy model among female children and adolescents victims of sexual abuse. METHODS A non-randomized study with intragroup comparisons over time was carried out. Female children and teenagers from nine to 16 years of age (N=40) were clinically assessed in three individual meetings in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, between 2006 and 2008. The group therapy comprised 16 semi-structured sessions. Psychological instruments were applied to investigate symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, child stress, beliefs and perception of the abuse experience before, during and after the intervention. The results were analyzed through statistical tests for repeated measures. A comparative analysis was carried out with the results of the pretest between the groups that received group psychotherapy immediately after the sexual abuse was reported and those who were waiting for psychological support. RESULTS The assessment of the impact of the intervention revealed that cognitive behavioral group therapy significantly reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, child stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, the intervention enabled the participants to modify beliefs of guilt, low degrees of trust and credibility, and was effective in reducing psychological symptoms and changing distorted beliefs and perception in regard to the abuse. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive behavioral group therapy was effective in reducing psychological symptoms in sexually abused girls.OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos do modelo de grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental para criancas e adolescentes do sexo feminino vitimas de abuso sexual. METODOS: Foi utilizado delineamento nao-randomizado intragrupos de series temporais. Criancas e adolescentes do sexo feminino com idade entre nove e 16 anos (N=40) da regiao metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RS), foram clinicamente avaliadas em tres encontros individuais, de 2006 a 2008. A grupoterapia consistiu de 16 sessoes semi-estruturadas. Instrumentos psicologicos investigaram sintomas de ansiedade, depressao, transtorno do estresse pos-traumatico, stress infantil e crencas e percepcoes da crianca em relacao a experiencia abusiva antes, durante e apos a intervencao. Os resultados foram analisados por meio de testes estatisticos para medidas repetidas. Foi realizada uma analise comparativa dos resultados do pre-teste entre os grupos que receberam atendimento psicologico em grupo imediato apos a denuncia do abuso e aquelas que aguardaram por atendimento. RESULTADOS: A analise do impacto da intervencao revelou que a grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental reduziu significativamente sintomas de depressao, ansiedade, stress infantil e transtorno do estresse pos-traumatico. Alem disso, a intervencao contribuiu para a reestruturacao de crencas de culpa, baixa confianca e credibilidade, sendo efetivo para a reducao de sintomas psicologicos e alteracao de crencas e percepcoes distorcidas sobre o abuso. CONCLUSOES: A grupoterapia cognitivo-comportamental mostrou ser efetiva para a reducao de sintomas psicologicos de criancas e adolescentes vitimas de abuso sexual.