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Anonymous Digital Therapy May Increase Help-Seeking Among Stigmatized Individuals
Luke Flanagan1, Jana Scheibig1, Paula Busch2
1Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
|May 23, 2026
Summary
Public stigma deters individuals with a sexual interest in children (ISIC) from therapy. Anonymous digital therapy may increase ISIC engagement, improving coping strategies and reducing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and child sexual abuse (CSA).
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Digital Health
Background:
- Child sexual abuse (CSA) and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) largely occur undetected.
- Public stigma against individuals with a sexual interest in children (ISIC) creates significant barriers to therapy.
- Therapy is a key intervention for reducing CSA offense risk and CSAM consumption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine treatment anxieties among ISIC.
- To investigate the impact of anonymity on ISIC comfort with therapy.
- To explore the potential of anonymous digital therapy for ISIC.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of ISIC treatment anxieties.
- Assessment of comfort levels with therapy under varying conditions of anonymity.
- Exploration of digital therapy as a modality for ISIC.
Main Results:
- Anonymity significantly increases ISIC comfort with the prospect of therapy.
- ISIC express substantial anxieties regarding seeking and engaging in treatment.
- Digital therapy, particularly with anonymity, shows promise for increasing engagement.
Conclusions:
- Addressing ISIC treatment anxieties through anonymity is crucial for improving mental well-being and coping strategies.
- Anonymous digital therapy could be an effective strategy to increase ISIC engagement in treatment.
- Reducing barriers to therapy for ISIC is essential for mitigating CSA and CSAM.
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