Child Sexual Abuse Within the Family: Assessment and Treatment

Two cases of fathers who committed suicide following the revelation that they had sexually abused their own or other children, are described. The importance of being alert to the possibility of suicide and suicidal acts by family members following a disclosure, is emphasised. Improved liaison and co-ordination between agencies working with these families may enable vulnerable cases to be more readily identified and consequently offered appropriate support and treatment.The revelation that the father in a family has sexually abused his own or other children often precipitates a crisis within the family. The distress suffered by the children themselves and by their mothers is well documented. (Browne and Finkelhor, Hildebrand and Forbes). Goodwin reported suicide attempts in 11 of 201 families, in which sexual abuse had been confirmed. Eight of the attempts were made by daughter-victims. In three of the five cases of mothers who attempted suicide, the abuse was intrafamilial. The impact on father perpetrators, previously a less well researched field, has been receiving more attention of late. Maisch, in a sample of 63 fathers convicted of incest reported that two fathers subsequently committed suicide. Wild has reported on six cases of suicide and three of attempted suicide by perpetrators following disclosure of child sexual abuse. The Cleveland Inquiry Report mentions one father, charged with several sex offences, who committed suicide while awaiting trial. A recent letter to The Guardian newspaper (18th February 1989) by 11 local paediatricians in that area suggests that there are now two such cases of suicide committed by alleged perpetrators.

Download Full-text

Treatment Issues in Child Sexual Abuse

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.159.6.769 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 159 (6) ◽

pp. 769-782 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Danya Glaser

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Treatment Process ◽

Legal Issues ◽

Treatment Modalities ◽

Careful Planning ◽

The Family ◽

The Many

Child sexual abuse is a commonly encountered and often emotionally damaging experience, maintained by secrecy and followed by denial after disclosure. Treatment in this field involves both the child and the family in a variety of treatment settings and modalities, often proceeding in parallel. Child developmental considerations dictate that treatment often proceeds in phases. It aims to protect the child from further abuse and the consequences of disclosure, and address the trauma and context of the abuse. Careful planning and co-operation is required by the many professionals working in this stressful area in order to avoid confusion, conflicts, and splits which may mirror relationships in the family. The heterogeneity of the problem is reflected in the fact that treatment cannot be offered in a uniform programme. Legal issues may influence the treatment process. Evaluation of treatment modalities, the identification of protective factors and achieving long-term adjustment in the least detrimental manner offer challenges in this newly developing field.

Download Full-text

Allegations of child sexual abuse in parenting disputes: An examination of judicial determinations in the Family Court of Australia

Journal of Child Custody ◽

10.1080/15379418.2017.1415776 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 93-115 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Claire Ferguson ◽

Sarah Wright ◽

Jodi Death ◽

Kylie Burgess ◽

John Malouff

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Family Court ◽

The Family ◽

Judicial Determinations

Download Full-text

Child Sexual Abuse and the Family Court

Australian Journal of Social Issues ◽

10.1002/j.1839-4655.1987.tb01215.x ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 3-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Helen Kiel

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Family Court ◽

The Family

Download Full-text