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Research that deepens our understanding of sexual abuse
WONSA research explores Sexual Abuse Injury, its impact, and the knowledge needed to improve understanding, clinical practice, and care.
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WONSA conducts research within the field of sexual abuse.
Research at WONSA
Advancing knowledge through research
WONSA is committed to developing knowledge that improves our understanding of sexual abuse and its impact. Our research brings together evidence, survivor experience, and clinical knowledge to support a deeper understanding of Sexual Abuse Injury.
Through research and collaboration, we work to strengthen knowledge and contribute to more informed approaches to understanding and treating sexual abuse injury.
Research findings that deepen our understanding
Research helps us better understand the impact of sexual abuse, the experiences of survivors, and approaches that may support healing.
70%
In one WONSA treatment study, 70% of participants no longer met criteria for PTSD after a single two-hour treatment session.
26×
Research cited by WONSA reports a 26-fold higher risk of attempted suicide among people who have experienced sexual abuse.
10+ Years
More than a decade of clinical experience and research has contributed to the development of WONSA’s knowledge and SAIF framework.
” Research findings are presented with their original study context and sources.”
Research through collaboration
BUILDING KNOWLEDGE TOGETHER
Research & Collaboration
At Balancia, we focus on delivering effective, evidence-based care that supports meaningful progress, symptom relief, and long-term wellbeing.G
Karolinska Institutet
In-person care in NY, VA, and DC, with secure teletherapy available. Many clients—especially children—benefit from in-person sessions.
From Research to SAIF
A brief introductory phone call with your assigned therapist is available at no cost before scheduling your first session.
What we treat
You don't need to suffer any longer
Anxiety disorders
Peripartum & postpartum care
Depression & bipolar disorders
Autism spectrum disorder
Alcohol use disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder
End-of-life transitions
Chronic medical illness
Coming out & sexuality questions
Gambling disorder
Eating disorders
Insomnia & sleep disorders
Substance use disorders (SUD)
Interpersonal conflict
Our published studies
You don't need to suffer any longer
Diagnoses of sexual abuse and their common registered co-morbidities in the total population of Stockholm
In this study, we look at how common different diagnoses are among people who have had a sexual abuse registered in the healthcare system, in comparison to people who have not. The data is based on all children and adults who lived in Stockholm between 2008-2014. Here we see that it is more than 10 times as common for a person who has had a sexual abuse registered in the healthcare system to have stress-related illnesses, anxiety and substance abuse problems, among other things.
By Rajan G, Ljunggren G, Wändell P. et al., 2017
Health care consumption among adolescent girls prior to diagnoses of sexual abuse, a case–control study in the Stockholm Region
In this study, we further looked at the use of healthcare for girls aged 12-17, who were the most vulnerable group in the study above, one and two years before a sexual abuse is registered in the healthcare system. We conducted this study because we know that children rarely tell and that abuse affects health, and we wanted to know if there were patterns that could mean that these girls could be identified and helped earlier? There were. Among other things, it was 15 times more common for these girls to seek healthcare due to suicide attempts than other girls of the same age in the same residential area, that they sought healthcare much more often than their peers, and that it was almost 10 times as common for them to receive medication for anxiety and sleep problems. One conclusion from the study is that there is a need for increased knowledge within Swedish healthcare about how to identify and treat young people who have been subjected to or are at risk of being subjected to sexual abuse.
By Rajan G, Ljunggren G, Wändell P. et al., 2020
Healthcare consumption and psychiatric diagnoses among adolescent girls 1 and 2 years after a first-time registered child sexual abuse experience
In this study, we investigate what happens one and two years after the health care system has registered that sexual abuse has occurred, in the girls from the previous study. Among other things, what we wanted to know was whether the health care system could reduce the risk of suicide attempts when there was knowledge of the sexual abuse. What we saw was that the health care system could not reduce the risk of suicide attempts. Instead, the risk of these girls seeking health care due to suicide attempts rose to 26 times higher than for girls of the same age in the same residential area. One conclusion is that there is a need for increased knowledge and understanding of which interventions and processes within the health care system improve or worsen health and well-being, and increase or decrease the risk of suicide attempts and suicide in young people who have been subjected to sexual abuse.
By Rajan G, Ljunggren G, Wändell P. et al., 2017
A One-Session Treatment of PTSD After Single Sexual Assault Trauma. A Pilot Study of the WONSA MLI Project: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study uses a new PTSD protocol, based on Lifespan Integration, for the treatment of PTSD after sexual abuse. 70% of participants were free of their PTSD diagnosis after a two-hour treatment, and the results were maintained after 6 months. A conclusion is that new perspectives on PTSD and PTSD treatment can shorten the treatment time for PTSD after sexual abuse. The study is a pilot study and several and larger studies are planned. Below are some of the comments from reviewers: "Strong design for a pilot study and I appreciate the decision to examine a single session intervention specifically for individuals with a single traumatic event in the relatively recent past." "The findings are promising and have potentially very important implications for the field" "The possible explanations of the efficacy of the MLI section is incredibly interesting"
By Rajan G, Ljunggren G, Wändell P. et al., 2017
Delayed healthcare access among victims of sexual abuse, understood through internal and external gatekeeping mechanisms
In this study, we look at how common different diagnoses are among people who have had a sexual abuse registered in the healthcare system, in comparison to people who have not. The data is based on all children and adults who lived in Stockholm between 2008-2014. Here we see that it is more than 10 times as common for a person who has had a sexual abuse registered in the healthcare system to have stress-related illnesses, anxiety and substance abuse problems, among other things.
By Rajan G, Wahlström L, Philips B, et al., 2021
Sexual violence, mental health, and suicidality - Results from a survey in cooperation with idea‐driven organizations and their social media platform followers
Sexual violence, mental health, and suicidality - Results from a survey in cooperation with idea‐driven organizations and their social media platform followers Results: Of the participants exposed to penetrating sexual violence, 49% stated that they had or had been diagnosed with depression, compared with 16% in the group not exposed to sexual violence. Similar findings were found for anxiety: 45% versus 12%; fatigue syndrome 28% versus 9%; post traumatic stress disorder 30% versus <0.1% and suicide attempts, 29% versus 3%. More participants in the group exposed to sexual violence had grown up in families with alcohol problems, suicide attempts, or where they have witnessed violence.
By Carlsson AC, Owen U, Rajan G. et al., 2022
Research & Psychological Understanding
RESEARCH-BASED UNDERSTANDING OF SEXUAL ABUSE INJURY
WONSA conducts research to deepen understanding of sexual abuse injury and improve approaches to care.
Our research explores trauma, mental health, healthcare experiences and the consequences of sexual abuse to build a clearer understanding of survivors’ needs.
These findings contribute to knowledge about psychological injury, treatment and how healthcare can better recognise and respond to people affected by sexual abuse.
“Though frightening, these attacks..... remind us that creating a protected space where survivors can speak their truth is an act of liberation...bearing witness... is an act of solidarity... Those who stand with the victim will inevitably have to face the perpetrator's unmasked fury. For many of us, there can be no greater honour.”
– Judith Lewis Herman, M.D
Psychological assessments
Comprehensive Psychological Testing & Evaluations
Lifespan Integration as a treatment method for PTSD in a natural setting
Sexual abuse is a widespread social problem that produces large societal costs and great suffering for those affected, and it is one of the leading causes of PTSD globally. Lifespan Integration (LI) has been shown in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to be a gentle and cost-effective treatment for PTSD. It has not, however, been studied in an ordinary clinical setting.
The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of LI in a naturalistic clinical setting — that is, without the rigorous participant selection that characterises RCTs.
By Joakim Brådenmark and Maria Järvare, 2024
Sexual trauma & healthcare
Sexual abuse is a widespread social problem that produces large societal costs and great suffering for those affected, and it is one of the leading causes of PTSD globally. Lifespan Integration (LI) has been shown in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to be a gentle and cost-effective treatment for PTSD. It has not, however, been studied in an ordinary clinical setting.
The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of LI in a naturalistic clinical setting — that is, without the rigorous participant selection that characterises RCTs.
There is room for improvement in care for sexually traumatised patients, both in how they are met and in the clinical treatment they receive. National coordination of care for sexually traumatised patients is recommended.
By Malin Viman, 2022
Modified Lifespan Integration after sexual trauma, a qualitative study on how patients experience treatment
The recommended first-line treatments for PTSD rest on CBT with exposure, and prolonged exposure (PE) has long been considered the gold standard. A major problem with PE, however, is its high drop-out rate. Modified Lifespan Integration (MLI) is built on minimal exposure and has been sparsely studied. In the only RCT to date, 72% of participants no longer scored for PTSD after a single session, and the drop-out rate was very low. In this qualitative interview study we examined how the participants in that RCT experienced the treatment itself. Six patients were recruited by consecutive sampling from the pilot RCT of MLI for PTSD after sexual trauma. They underwent semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim and analysed qualitatively using constructivist grounded theory, with constant comparative method and negative case analysis.
The aim of this study was to understand the patient's experience of Modified Lifespan Integration (MLI) as a treatment for PTSD following sexual trauma.
Not living life to the fullest: A thematic analysis of mental health among adults exposed to childhood sexual abuse
Childhood sexual abuse is a global problem and has been linked to a number of negative consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide attempts and relationship difficulties. Qualitative studies that examine people's own perceptions of how the abuse affects their mental well-being today are few.
The aim of the present study was therefore to examine how adults with experience of childhood sexual abuse experience their current mental well-being in a Swedish context.
By Nancy Nebrin, 2023
Meet our clinicians
Our psychologists combine advanced training with a compassionate, client-centered approach.
Balancia has been a sanctuary for me. The tools I've learned here have helped me navigate my creative blocks and personal anxiety.
Julia – artist
Logical, empathetic, and effective. The medication management and therapy combo changed my life trajectory.
Ethan – software engineer
As a teacher, burnout is real. My therapist helped me set boundaries and find joy in my work again. Highly recommended.
Sophia – teacher
Balancia has been a sanctuary for me. The tools I've learned here have helped me navigate my creative blocks and personal anxiety.
Milla – artist
Logical, empathetic, and effective. The medication management and therapy combo changed my life trajectory.
Josh – manager
Balancia has been a sanctuary for me. The tools I've learned here have helped me navigate my creative blocks and personal anxiety.
Ben – entroprenour
Balancia has been a sanctuary for me. The tools I've learned here have helped me navigate my creative blocks and personal anxiety.
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Our Research Authors & Co-Authors
Meet Our Therapists
Meet our Research Authors
Our research brings together clinicians, researchers and other professionals who contribute their knowledge and experience to advancing WONSA’s understanding of sexual abuse injury and healing.
Caroline Wachtler
Med. Dr., specialist in general medicine, assistant lecturer at the Section for General Medicine and Primary Care, NVS, KI.
Per Wendell
Senior professor of general medicine, specialist in general medicine, KI, NVS, Section for General Medicine and Primary Care.
Carl-Göran Svedin
Professor emeritus, Ersta Bräcke Sköndal University.
Björn Phillips
Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Stockholm
University. Licensed psychologist and licensed psychotherapist, psychotherapy researcher with experience in randomized controlled trials.
Bring SAIF into your Clinical Practice
Deepen your understanding of Sexual Abuse Injury and learn how the SAIF framework can inform clinical practice and support more informed care.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Questions we often asked
What does WONSA research focus on?
WONSA research focuses on developing knowledge about sexual abuse, Sexual Abuse Injury, its impact, and approaches that can improve understanding and care.
Why is research into Sexual Abuse Injury important?
Research can help deepen understanding of the effects of sexual abuse and contribute to better recognition, clinical knowledge, and informed approaches to care.
How does survivor experience contribute to research?
Survivor experience provides important knowledge for understanding sexual abuse and developing research and approaches that are relevant to those affected.
How does research inform clinical practice?
Research can strengthen clinical knowledge and help professionals develop a deeper understanding of Sexual Abuse Injury and appropriate approaches to care.
Where can I learn more about WONSA research?
Explore WONSA’s research, publications, and educational resources to learn more about Sexual Abuse Injury, SAIF, and related clinical knowledge.