New study aims to reduce the sexual exploitation of children online

On March 26, the Karolinska Institutet and the Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden launch a new study aimed at reducing the online badual exploitation of children. The recruitment of participants to the study will take place in forums on the encrypted part of the Internet called the darknet.

This study aims to evaluate a new way to help people no longer consume child badgraphy online, a behavior for which there is currently no scientifically proven treatment. The treatment method tested is a therapist-badisted online cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy program, based on a new manual called Prevent it. The recruitment will take place in forums on the encrypted part of the Internet called the darknet,where the sharing of material of badual abuse on a child is common.

"On the darknet network, there are people who are stuck in a behavior that they want to stop, but they have to find a way to do it.And if the same Internet, the same network of computers interconnected , allowed to spread destruction and abuse, could also be used to provide treatment even in the most remote and hidden places ?, "says Dr. Rahm, psychiatrist and principal investigator of the study.

To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, the participant will be randomized to active psychotherapy or psychological placebo: i. e. a similar condition controlled but without interventions of active cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. There is also a waiting list group for comparison. The study will recruit globally and participants will be anonymous.

"The badual exploitation of children online is a major global problem.In recruiting patients via the darknet, we will reach many nationalities.An important goal of this study is also to try to democratize the Access to highly specialized care in university clinics, "said Dr. Christoffer Rahm.

Rahm and her team from the Anova Clinic, including Drs. Katarina Görts Öberg, Dr Stefan Arver and Chalotte Sparre, will lead the study for 18 months.

The study was prepared in collaboration with the World Childhood Foundation and ECPAT Sweden.

"When a case of badual abuse is documented and disseminated online, it increases the trauma experienced by the child." In order to truly prevent child badual abuse, we must work with those who are at risk of badual abuse. If there is a lack of knowledge in this area, that's why Childhood is actively investing in this project. "Paula Guillet de Monthoux, General Secretary of the World Childhood Foundation.

"To prevent the badual exploitation of children, many different measures are needed.We work to the empowerment of children and youth, but prevention work for potential offenders is also needed." C & # 39; that is why we are a knowledge partner in this project, "says Anna Karin Hildingson Boqvist General Secretary of ECPAT Sweden.

The Swedish Central Committee for Ethics Review approved the study protocol on 18 March.