Victims of rape and sexual assault often suffer from a range of negative effects following their violent experience. These may include post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety; social and work adjustment problems; and sexual dysfunction.
The Campbell Collaboration has undertaken a systematic review, led by Cheryl Regehr, on the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions in reducing symptoms of distress and trauma for victims of sexual violence.
The team examined six studies that evaluated five cognitive and behavioural interventions. The results revealed that each of the interventions has a statistically significant effect on reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety. (Read the full review…)