Sexual violence is a serious problem of public health: it reaches all social classes, ethnics, religions and cultures, specially children and adolescents of the female sex. The objective of the present study is to describe the impact of a cognitive-behavior intervention on a 13-year-old adolescent, victim of rape attempt. The process included 45 sessions, distributed in initial evaluation, intervention, final evaluation and follow-up. It also used semi-directed interview, DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), cognitive-behavior techniques, and mother counseling. On the first interview the therapist identified school and behavior problems, symptoms of pos-traumatic stress disorder and moderate symptoms of depression, intensified by the episode of violence. Transgerational standard repetition was also observed: promiscuous behavior, alcoholism, sexual violence and relationship instability. Results demonstrated reduction of the initial complaints, acquisition of new behavior repertoire, better psicossocial functioning and positive impact of the intervention. The data indicate the need for inclusion of the family in the process.
Sexual violence; cognitive-behavior therapy; adolescent
