Prolonged Exposure Therapy Is Effective for Treatment of Sexual Abuse-Associated PTSD in Girls

Prolonged exposure therapy involves gradually increasing contact with cues or situations that trigger symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and voluntary recall of traumatic event details. This treatment is highly effective in adults with PTSD but has not been well studied in adolescents. Investigators randomized 61 girls (age range, 13-18 years) seeking treatment at a community rape crisis center to receive prolonged exposure therapy modified for adolescents or supportive client-centered therapy.

Each treatment consisted of up to 14 weekly sessions delivered by master's-level counselors who had undergone 4 days of training. Both treatments resulted in significant improvements, but prolonged exposure was significantly more effect…