PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF CHRONIC POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER IN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL AGGRESSION

The aim of this research was to test the comparative effectiveness of two therapeutic modalities in the treatment of chronic posttraumatic s tress disorder in victims of sexual aggression: (a) self-exposure and cognitive restructuring and (b) progressive relaxation training. The s ample consisted of 20 patients (victims of rape in adulthood or adult victims of childhood sexual abuse) selected according to DSM-III-R cri teria. A multigroup experimental design with repeated measures (pretre atment, posttreatment, and 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up) was use d. Most treated patients improved, but the success rate was higher in all measures in the exposure and cognitive restructuring group immedia tely on posttreatment and at follow-up. Implications of this study for clinical practice and future research in this field are commented on.