Common psychological defenses seen in the treatment of sexually abused adolescents.

The negative psychological aftermath of sexual abuse is complex and has a direct correlation with the establishment of maladaptive defense mechanisms. Long-term psychotherapy can allow the adolescent patient to establish the cognitive and affective connections to the original trauma and work through the residue of guilt and shame. As mastery is achieved through the treatment process, higher level defenses should become more pronounced. Because the repressed memories related to the sexual trauma need to be unfolded slowly, so that the defensive capacities are not overwhelmed, treatment may need to be continued into adulthood. This paper proposes a theoretical discussion to assess the psychological defenses commonly seen in adolescents with a history of sexual abuse. Further research is needed on the sexually abused patient's intrapsychic experience and the development of defenses used to ward off painful memories related to the sexual trauma.