Derailed by a sugar daddy: An investigation of the failed treatment of an adolescent township rape survivor with PTSD

Abstract

This study investigates the transportability of an evidence-based psychological intervention to local contexts by documenting the treatment process with an isi-Xhosa speaking Black South African adolescent. She was sexually assaulted on two separate occasions, the second incident involved a gang rape by several perpetrators and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. She was treated using Ehlers and Clark’s (2000) cognitive therapy (ECCT). Systematic case study methodology was used. Treatment was partially successful as Lulama prematurely terminated after 11 sessions. Nevertheless, her case study highlights some of the challenges in working with adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds characterised by dysfunctional home environments, parental psychopathology, community violence and the presence of perpetrators. The study identifies some of the obstacles that can be encountered when implementing trauma- focused interventions in local South African contexts and serves to sensitise practitioners to some of the conditions necessary for treatment to be effective.