SEXUAL ABUSE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY - EPIDEMIOL OGIC QUANTIFICATION, IE, POOLING THE THERAPISTS AS A SUGGESTED APPROACH

Research on the sexual abuse of patients by their therapists is confin ed to a number of empirical studies. Two different methods have been a pplied: (1) investigating therapists who confirmed having had sexual c ontact with their patients and (2) investigating therapists who treate d patients who experienced sexual abuse in previous therapies. Until n ow there has been a serious lack of statistical data concerning victim ization. The present study combines the results of the studies publish ed and gives the best minimal estimate of the incidence: 5-24 new case s of abused female patients per 1000 therapists annually.