Evaluation of an intervention designed for men who were abused in childhood and are experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Abstract

This article presents an empirical evaluation of an open-trial intervention designed specifically for men who experienced childhood abuse (primarily sexual, but also physical and/or emotional). Clinical data are presented for 114 men who received treatment in a community-based, sequentially phased group therapy program in Ottawa, Canada between 2007 and 2011. The Men & Healing program (MH) is a theoretically driven treatment model with three phases (stabilization, processing and creation of a trauma narrative, and réintégration). It includes a focus on evidence-based gender-specific issues, including an understand:ing of the impact of abuse on males in the context of traditional gender socialization. At baseline, participants were administered a semistructured interview, and completed the BDI-n and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R). Participants then completed the BDI-II and the IBS-R at 10-week intervals throughout the program. Symptom trajectories were analyzed using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM). Results showed significant improvements in posttraumatic and depression symptoms over the course of the MH program. Twenty to 38% of participants exhibited reliable improvement on symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress.

How do men with severe sexual and physical childhood traumatization experience trauma-stabilizing group treatment? A qualitative study

“…Men with complex traumas seem to be more socially isolated than women and have seldom established their own families. This is to some extent in line with a study from Canada including 260 men with a history of physical or emotional traumas, where the rates of marriage and employment status were lower than in the general population (Hopton & Huta, 2013). In a study by Stige et al (2013) including 13 females, 10 had children and four were working.…”

“…Hopton and Huta (2013), in a quantitative study, included 260 men in a group intervention with a focus on both gender role socialization and the creation of a trauma narrative shared with the group. The intervention revealed improvements in both depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms.…”

“…The intervention revealed improvements in both depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The participants referred themselves to treatment on a community level (Hopton & Huta, 2013). …”

Child Maltreatment: What Attitudinal Factors Drive Graduate Students in Speech-Language Pathology to Report?

“…As such, adults who were abused as children tend to live alone, have a higher prevalence of divorce, and are approximately four times more likely to describe themselves as being unhappy [8]. Additional psychosocial consequences also include: feelings of helplessness and a sense of disregard for a person's boundaries and will [12]. Moreover, individuals adapting to complex trauma must also cope with violation of their identity, credence, and value [10].…”

“…Mental sequelae associated with abuse and neglect may include depressive and anxiety disorders; sexual dysfunctions; feeding and eating disorders; and substance-related diagnoses [8]. Specific examples noted in the literature largely center on depression and posttraumatic stress disorder [11,12]. As such, adults who were abused as children tend to live alone, have a higher prevalence of divorce, and are approximately four times more likely to describe themselves as being unhappy [8].…”