A systematic review of the effectiveness of psychological approaches in the treatment of sex offenders with intellectual disabilities

Eddie Chaplin,Emma Jones

doi:10.1111/jar.12345

Abstract

Despite considerable advance and growth in the evidence base for psychological interventions as treatment for sex offenders with intellectual disabilities (ID), there remains limited evidence to support their effectiveness. This systematic review seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological interventions on reducing reoffending rates for sex offenders with ID. A search of ten electronic databases, grey literature and reference lists was conducted using PRISMA methodology. A number of studies appeared to establish positive treatment outcomes, demonstrated by improvements in attitudinal change, victim empathy and sexual knowledge. However, reductions in sexual reoffending during the follow-up period were not consistent across the studies. No studies with an adequate control comparison were identified during the search. The current review provides limited evidence on the effectiveness of psychological interventions for sex offenders with ID, while also highlighting the need for further research.

Highlights

Over the last decade many Western governments have revised their criminal justice responses to dealing with sex offenders in an attempt to reduce reoffending (Brown, 2001)
The remaining 64 articles were examined against the eligibility criteria. Of these 52 were excluded on one or more of the following grounds: study populations that did not look at sexual offending, participants who had no diagnosis of Intellectual Disabilities (ID) or dealt solely with people not aged over 18 years, interventions which were not psychological in nature and papers that were descriptive and did not comment on outcomes
The search for effective psychological interventions for sex offenders with an ID is an important area of concern, one which cuts across different groups of people, namely clinicians, policy makers and those sex offenders in receipt of care, each of whom will have different vested interests in the efficacy of the treatment

Summary

Introduction

Over the last decade many Western governments have revised their criminal justice responses to dealing with sex offenders in an attempt to reduce reoffending (Brown, 2001). The effects of this have been two-fold, more harsh and punitive punishments and prison sentences, and greater financial investment in the development of treatment programmes, for people with and without Intellectual Disabilities (ID) (Schmucker & Lösel, 2008). From the current evidence it is difficult to estimate the true prevalence of people with ID who are sex offenders due to a range of methodological issues (Lindsay, 2002; McBrien, 2003; Simpson& Hogg, 2001a). Conclusions: The current review provides limited evidence on the effectiveness of psychological interventions for sex offenders with ID, whilst highlighting the need for further research

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