Clinically significant change after cognitive restructuring for adult surviviors of childhood sexual abuse

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This study investigated the outcome of cognitive restructuring for adult survivors of childhoodsexual abuse in terms of clinically significant change. Twenty-six participants were assessed fordepression, State anxiety, State anger, State guilt and self-esteem before and after 10 weeklysessions of group Rational-emotive behaviour therapy and at follow-up after 8 weeks. In contrast toa previous analysis of the data in terms of statistical significance indicating significantimprovements on all variables from pre- to post-treatment, an analysis based on clinicallysignificant change showed a differentiated treatment effect. Cognitive restructuring was found to behighly effective in facilitating recovery on measures of anxiety, depression and anger, but lesseffective for guilt and self-esteem. Only 3 participants (11.54%) recovered on all five variables,while 10 participants (38.46%) showed recovery on at least four variables. Relationship toperpetrator and pre-treatment irrational evaluative beliefs (measured by means of the Survey ofPersonal Beliefs) were found to be the best predictors of treatment outcome. A poor response totreatment was associated with the perpetrator being a close family member and with more OtherdirectedShoulds, while recovery was associated with the perpetrator being a friend or stranger andwith more Awfulizing, Self-directed Shoulds and Negative Self-worth beliefs.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University