Father-daughter incest: Comparison of treated cases to untreated control subjects

Abstract

Treatment of father daughter incest (FDI) survivors using the victim advocacy/child welfare approach to FDI that predominates today in the US has never been compared to results in untreated control subjects in any published report. In the present study, thirty-two survivors of FDI who received treatment based on the victim advocacy/child welfare approach to FDI were compared to 32 control subjects who did not receive treatment. No significant differences were found using analysis of variance on 21 scales and subscales. Statistical analysis of the data from all 64 of the FDI survivors showed that items reflecting a poor self-image and a history of maternal depression predicted more problematic scores on the depression scale. Those who scored higher on religiosity were less likely to be depressed. Redesigned therapy for FDI aimed, first and foremost, at healing the survivors and validated by prospective randomized trials is needed.