Judith A. Cohen, MD

"Well-meaning" behavior by parents or guardians could be contributing to high levels of depression, suicidality, substance use, and other adverse outcomes in their child.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be tailored for use with children who have experienced sexual abuse in order to relieve symptoms of PTSD.

Evidence is growing that trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is an effective treatment for sexually abused children, including those who have experienced multiple other traumatic events. This article reviews the research that has examined treatments for sexually abused children and suggests future research priorities in this regard.