A longitudinal study assessing trauma symptoms in sexually abused children engaged in play therapy.

Abstract

Children who have been sexually abused exhibit a variety of emotional, sexual, behavioral, and psychological problems. A great deal of interest has been generated in the use of play therapy as a clinical approach to intervention with sexually abused children. This study explores the effect of play therapy as a primary treatment modality with sexually abused children. The impact of specific traumatic symptoms and overall treatment is examined. Findings indicate that, overall, trauma symptom severity in children decreased after 6 months of play therapy. In addition, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and sexual distress scores indicated a significant decrease. Additional research is recommended to develop evaluative and systematic guidelines that will further validate the use of play therapy as an empirically supported assessment and treatment tool.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2004) reports that approximately 1.8 million referrals were made to state and local child protective services regarding allegations of suspected child

The effectiveness, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for maltreated children and adolescents: an evidence synthesis

“…Play therapy views play as a 'natural medium in which children express themselves' (p. 28). 576 It therefore provides a way to communicate complex ideas that would be otherwise difficult, through verbal means and helps children make sense of their internal and external worlds. 576 Furthermore, deficits in imaginative play have been observed in children who have experienced maltreatment that have been negatively associated with positive affect, peer interaction and problem-solving.…”

“…576 It therefore provides a way to communicate complex ideas that would be otherwise difficult, through verbal means and helps children make sense of their internal and external worlds. 576 Furthermore, deficits in imaginative play have been observed in children who have experienced maltreatment that have been negatively associated with positive affect, peer interaction and problem-solving. 203 Activity-based interventions, such as sports or game based interventions, view activity as an appropriate medium for adolescents because it is more enjoyable than one-to-one office-based therapy, requires the development of social skills and peer relations, has physiological benefits through physical exercise and requires cognitive skills, such as impulse inhibition and planning.…”

Game-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (GB-CBT): An Innovative Group Treatment Program for Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused

“…A guiding principal underlying the play therapy orientation is that play, one of the primary ways that children explore and interact with the external world, is used to facilitate an experiential, symbolic, and learning process to develop healthy emotions and behaviors (Gallo-Lopez, 2006;Gil, 1991;Kelly & Odenwalt, 2006). Furthermore, play promotes the acquisition of verbal skills using various rules that govern social interactions (Reyes & Asbrand, 2005). It is also a compelling approach because it is most congruent with children's natural modes of expression and makes treatment more fun and engaging (Gallo-Lopez, 2006;Gil, 1991;Kelly & Odenwalt, 2006;Reams & Friedrich, 1994).…”

Child Sexual Abuse in the United States: Perspectives on Assessment and Intervention

“…Girls who have been sexually abused have an increased risk of sexual re-victimization at some point later in development (Arata, 2002). The experience of CSA also frequently obstructs a child's ability to complete developmental tasks (e.g., development of motor skills, cognitive abilities, school performance, and social skills), which negatively affects the overall well-being of the child, both at the time of the abuse and throughout the victim's lifespan (Reyes & Asbrand;2005). Despite the many immediate and potential future negative consequences of the trauma, early intervention is often successful in treating the child's presenting symptoms (Dyregrov & Yule, 2006;Green, 2008).…”

“…It is important to note that reactions to the CSA vary depending on the child's developmental stage, and these differences may impact their response to treatment (Feather & Ronan, 2009). The most common and widespread problems effecting children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, including CSA include: "(a) anxiety, (b) depression, (c) anger, (d) cognitive distortions, (e) posttraumatic stress (PTSD), (f) dissociation, (g) identity disturbance, (h) affect dysregulation, (i) interpersonal problems, (j) substance abuse, (k) self-mutilation, (l) bulimia, (m) unsafe or dysfunctional sexual behavior, (n) somatization, (o) aggression, (p) suicidality, and (q) personality disorder" Chatterjee et al, 2006;Deb & Mukherjee, 2009;Reyes & Asbrand, 2005). Boys with a sexual abuse history are more likely to engage in unprotected sexual intercourse, cause a pregnancy, and have multiple sexual partners than boys who were not sexually abused (Homma, Wang, Saewyc & Kishor, 2012).…”