Abstract

Objective: It is well recognized that child sexual abuse (CSA) occurs frequently, with the vast majority of cases never being reported. The impact of such abuse has previously been shown to have both psychological and cognitive impacts that can be long-lasting. However, there is little research regarding any potential improvement in cognitive abilities following treatment. In the present publication, we examine cognitive functioning in victims of CSA, aged between 8 and 12, who were examined at baseline and again during treatment. The treatment program is designed and carried out by an independent charity, and has previously been shown to be very successful in improving symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and mood.

Methods: Children aged 8-12 underwent multiple intensive interventions located at a dedicated facility (the Be Brave Ranch) during a 12-month period. We examined cognitive changes during this program, as measured by MyCogntion Quotient (MyCQ), an online cognitive assessment program. Cognition was measured in five domains: attention, episodic memory, executive function, working memory, and processing speed. Changes in cognitive performance were analyzed to determine whether statistically significant improvement occurred.

Results: Of the 86 children enrolled in the study, 62 (72.1%) completed at least a baseline assessment. The mean baseline MyCQ score was below the age-group standard, but not significantly (p=0.344). Fifty-four (62.3%) children completed the 1-year program. Of these individuals, overall MyCQ scores improved by 9% (p=0.005), and statistically positive changes occurred in three domains: working memory (p=0.021), executive function (p=0.0001), and attention (p=0.009). Episodic memory was the only domain that had a negative change, but it was not statistically significant (p=0.466).

Conclusion: The present results show that cognitive abilities improve significantly with treatment. In general, these improvements mirror the degree of overall clinical improvement. This research adds to the evidence demonstrating that cognitive changes occur following CSA, and is among the first to demonstrate possible reversion of such changes in CSA victims following treatment. It also demonstrates that MyCQ is potentially a useful tool to track such changes.

Keywords: Cognition; Children; Sexual abuse; Rating; Treatment; Attention; Memory; Executive function; Processing speed