[Qualitative research approaches in practical use in child and adolescent psychiatry].

Experimental study designs and quantitative analysis are dominating the methodology of child psychiatric research. Sometimes the "box of tools" consisting of standardized software packages for statistical analysis seems to lead to a regrettable uniformity in research strategies. Elaborated sociological research concepts in the tradition of Max Weber and the "Chicago school" could close the scientific gap between quantitative studies on large samples and simple case-reports.

[How do mothers experience and cope with sexual abuse of their daughters?].

Previous studies especially research done by systemic family-therapists stressed the importance of the role of the mother in sexual abuse of children by male family members. The literature on the reactions of mothers and their coping with the situation after disclosure will be reviewed. Our own qualitative studies on the reactions of mothers showed, that the disclosure is a multiple crisis for the mother: (a) A crisis and/or breakdown of the hitherto existing concepts of partnership; (b) the mothering-competence is called in question; (c) breakdown of the previous self assertion and self concept as a woman; (d) psychosocial crisis of bereavement and/or conflicts and changes in all relationships (isolation, loneliness); (e) material and economical crisis.