An Empirical Investigation of Group Treatment for a Clinical Population of Adult Female Incest Survivors

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to empirically assess the effectiveness of a group treatment program on intrapersonal symptomatology and interpersonal difficulties in a clinical population of women with a history of incest. Subjects for the study were drawn from participants in a time-limited group treatment program conducted by a community-based mental health agency. Thirty-two women who participated in the 20-week program were compared to 31 women who were wait-listed for the program for a similar time period on measures of intrapersonal symptomatology and interpersonal difficulties. In addition, the effects of the group treatment program over time were examined by assessment of the treatment group six months following completion of the program. Results indicate that a time-limited group which focuses on the original trauma is effective in reducing intrapersonal symptomatology for women with a history of incest and that this improvement is stable over time. In general, interpersonal difficulties did not show as much improvement as intrapersonal symptomatology. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.