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Review
. 2021 Jul 1;23(8):51.
doi: 10.1007/s11920-021-01259-3.

Does Treatment for Sexual Offending Work?

Nichola Tyler  1 , Theresa A Gannon  2 , Mark E Olver  3
Affiliations
Review

Does Treatment for Sexual Offending Work?

Nichola Tyler et al. Curr Psychiatry Rep. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: We review and synthesize the literature on the effectiveness of offense-focused treatment for sexual offending. Specifically, we consider whether the extant literature suggests treatment is effective in reducing sexual reoffending and features of effective interventions. We also consider how the design of program evaluations may influence treatment outcomes.

Recent findings: Recent research suggests that offense-focused psychological treatment for sexual offending shows some level of effectiveness in reducing both sexual and general reoffending. Further, there appear to be key program, individual, and study design features associated with treatment effectiveness. Although recent findings paint an optimistic outlook for offense-focused psychological treatment for sexual offending, further high-quality differential studies are needed to fully understand the range of content, delivery, and individual factors associated with successful treatment outcomes so as to establish what works best for whom.

Keywords: Sexual offending; Sexual offense treatment; Sexual recidivism; Treatment effectiveness; Treatment moderators.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

References

    1. Marshall LE. The utility of treatment for sexual offenders. In: Proulx J, Cortoni F, Craig LA, Letourneau EJ, editors. The Wiley handbook of what works with sexual offenders: contemporary perspectives in theory, assessment, treatment and prevention: John Wiley & Sons Ltd; 2020. Chapter 10. 10.1002/9781119439325.ch10.
    1. Mews A, Di Bella L, & Purver M. Impact evaluation of the prison-based core sex offender treatment programme. Ministry Justice Anal Series. 2017. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa.... Largest single study evaluation of specialist psychological treatment for sexual offending. Findings suggested negative effect of treatment on reoffending and led to international concern regarding the effectiveness of sexual offending treatment. Illustrates the importance of understanding “what works” in treating sexual offending.
    1. Brown P, Ross C. Academic oversight in policy research: questions arising from the sex offender treatment programme study. Lancet Psychiatry. 2019;3:224–226. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0336(19)30374-8. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hanson RK, Yates PM. Psychological treatment of sex offenders. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013;15:348. doi: 10.1007/s11920-012-0348-x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Gannon TA, Olver ME, Mallion JS, James M. Does specialized psychological treatment for offending reduce recidivism? A meta-analysis examining staff and program variables as predictors of treatment effectiveness. Clin Psychol Rev. 2019. 10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101752The most recent and largest meta-analysis of sexual offense treatment to date and examined the importance of staff and treatment program moderators in contributing to program effectiveness. Highlights the importance of these factors in producing superior treatment outcomes. - PubMed

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