Incest Survivors Research Articles

Identifying and treating the sexual repercussions of incest: a couples therapy approach.

Given the significant number of adults who were sexually victimized as children and the serious negative effects that sexual abuse can have on sexual functioning, clinicians need to be prepared to recognize and treat the intimacy concerns of adult incest survivors. Broadening the definition of incest to include nontouch sexual abuse, this paper describes types of sexual problems commonly expressed by survivors, such as sexual dysfunction, fear of sex, conditioned negative reactions to sex, flashbacks to the abuse, and mind-body dissociation. The intimate partner of the survivor is viewed as a secondary victim of the incest, who often displays a unique set of sexual and emotional concerns as well. A four-stage couples therapy approach is presented which includes identifying the problem, working together on incest resolution, changing old sexual intimacy patterns, and creating positive sexual experiences. This model is a dynamic combination of incest resolution therapy, sex therapy, and couples therapy. Therapeutic dilemmas and considerations are discussed and recommendations given for increasing the effectiveness of therapy. An argument is made as to why a couples therapy approach is the preferred method of treatment.

Sex Therapy with Female Incest Survivors

Female incest survivors experience difficulties in adult relationships, often years after the abuse has ceased. The authors outline a threefold typology for understanding the differential dynamics of father–daughter incest, the resulting sexual problems, and differential treatment techniques.

"Adult incest survivors": Reply.

"Adult incest survivors": Reply.

Back from Moriah: Moral trauma and the Vietnam veteran

Psychological termination with Vietnam war experience continues as a subclinical agenda for an estimated two million veterans. This essay proposes facilitating a shift in the veteran's inner sense from victim to survivor of moral trauma. Explored are psychodynamic parallels between Vietnam veterans and adult survivors of untreated childhood incest. Suggested is the importance of veterans' initiative in terminating the Vietnam Soldier Role.

Women Survivors of Incest: Report of a Group

Adult incest survivors are seeking help in increasing numbers at Sexual Assault Centres. This paper describes a group for women who wished to meet with other survivors and who identified incest as the critically damaging experience of their childhood. Group members found acceptance, support and relief in the shared milieu of the group.

Safeguards and the therapeutic window. A group treatment strategy for adult incest survivors.

A group treatment model for adult incest survivors is presented. It has been designed to take into account the traumatic nature and sequelae of abuse experiences. Based on the Stress Response Syndrome, the model emphasizes use of a "therapeutic window" as a clinical guide and includes protective interventions, clinical timing issues, and prominent themes relevant to these survivors.

Psychiatrist-patient sexual contact: results of a national survey, II: Psychiatrists' attitudes.

In a national random-sample survey of 1,423 practicing psychiatrists, the overwhelming majority of the respondents (98%) said that therapist-patient sexual contact is always inappropriate and usually harmful to the patient. However, 29.6% said that such contact after termination of therapy might sometimes be acceptable. Psychiatrists who acknowledged having had sexual contact with one or more patients (N = 84) differed markedly from their peers in their attitudes. The majority (74%) of these offenders believed that sexual contact could be appropriate after termination; many apparently rationalized their behavior in this manner. The authors discuss the need for systematic professional education on the subject.

Incest: A developmental dystopia

Abstract Specialists in group work with incest survivors are offered a developmental perspective. Suggestions for therapy are linked to developmental issues.

Isolation to Intimacy: Incest Survivors in Group Therapy

Group therapy for incest survivors resolves shame and guilt and decreases isolation. This model for recruiting, screening, and treating survivors involves long-term, open-ended format that helps members with intimacy and separation issues. Training and supervision are crucial to handling countertransference.

Treatment for survivors of incest

Abstract Directed self-help, mutual support groups are useful resources for the treatment of various populations victimized by sexual abuse. Several group models are presented.

Disturbances of Perception in Adult Female Incest Survivors

Perceptual disturbances appear to occur in all adult female incest survivors, and failure to address them in therapy may compromise treatment. Certain recurring hallucinations are described in detail, and their diagnostic and treatment implications, including group therapy, are discussed.

Electra in Mourning

The adult incest survivor's experience is explored, using a paradigm of the grieving process. Stages of mourning are reviewed from the perspective of the child incest-victim's experience and the adult incest-survivor's personality and defenses. Therapy clients describe their own past and present experiencing of closing off (denial, confusion, numbness) and opening up to affects. Because of the multiple layers and levels of mourning, working through is a complicated process. The effects of this early and ongoing trauma seem lifelong. Even in resolution, scars are apparent.

Detecting a History of Incest: A Predictive Syndrome

The author describes thought content and perceptual symptoms shared by women survivors of childhood incest. The syndrome, if confirmed, may make it possible to detect such incest, through the expanded use of a mental status examination, in one unstructured interview.

A Group Design for Adult Female Survivors of Childhood Incest

This paper will describe short term groups for women sexually molested as children. The goals of such a group were to provide an atmosphere in which women could discuss the experience of sexual abuse, explore the consequences of incest, be exposed to the probably phases of recovery and discuss practical coping skills. The design of the group is detailed, as are recommendations and relevant issues for therapists. Women's responses to the group, such as increase in self-esteem, trust level, assertiveness and confrontation with the abuser, are also discussed.

Treating Female Adult Survivors of Childhood Incest

As increasing numbers of adult women are found to be struggling with problems resulting from their being victims of incest in childhood, therapists need to be prepared to help them. This article outlines a treatment approach, goals, techniques, and tools.

The deliberate self-harm syndrome.

Recent research has differentiated several distinct classes of self-destructive behavior. This paper describes the clinical characteristics of one class, the deliberate self-harm syndrome. Analysis of 56 published case reports of self-harm revealed a typical pattern of onset in late adolescence, multiple recurrent episodes, low lethality, harm deliberately inflicted upon the body, and extension of the behavior over many years. Since the clinical characteristics of the deliberate self-harm syndrome differ substantially from those of other classes of self-destructive behavior, the authors propose that DSM-IV classify deliberate self-harm as a separate diagnostic syndrome.

Father-Daughter Incest

Father-Daughter Incest