NCJ Number
94452
Date Published
1982
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Before handling incest cases, professionals should understand the common patterns of incest and the different types of evaluations and treatments available to deal with the child and the family. False accusations and false denials of incest, which practitioners often fear they will encounter, are rare.
Abstract
Incest is the most common type of sexual molestation in childhood, with stepfather-daughter and father-daughter relationships most commonly reported. Because incest may lead to venereal disease with or without intercourse, a victim physical examination is necessary. Incest tends to occur in dysfunctional families and in children over 2 years old, although infants have been abused. Incest victims tend to exhibit psychiatric problems as adults. Parents usually intimidate children into lying about incest; children rarely concoct incest hoaxes. The therapist should confront the entire family with the child's accusation. Parents should be treated for alcoholism or other physical complaints as a way to establish trust. Professionals need to focus these sessions on the family's problems and feelings, avoiding the domination of anger and recriminations. Intervention is intense and draining, requiring the investigator to set firm limits. Doctors examining incest victims should not lead the family to believe that they are preoccupied with 'finding the truth' but are trying to identify physical problems. The examination should be done tactfully; postponing the pelvic examination to the second visit is advised. Physicians should develop a long list of goals for the incest family, such as improving the child's school performance and treating the husband for impotence. A successful program designed by Henry Giaretto in Santa Clara County, Calif., has family members participate in group, individual, and family therapy for 3 months or more. Physicians should not rely solely on the medical examination to determine incest and should not ally themselves too closely with the family's position. Forty references are supplied.