Denial in sex offenders: workers’ perceptions

Forty-one convicted male offenders in group treatment were assessed by their probation officers for denial. The officers made reliable observations. Two factors of denial emerged; denial of the facts of the offences, e.g. planning, and denial of responsibility or blame. No relationships were found between the types of denial and the offence characteristics.     

Sexologic forensic expert evaluation of sex offenders

The authors differentiate between deviant and nondeviant sexual delinquents and focus attention in particular on the forensic evaluation of deviantly conditioned delinquents. They describe some differences in the psychosexual development of deviant delinquents and some anamnestic facts which signalize a deviant structure of the sexual motivation system. They emphasize the necessity of a comprehensive examination of the delinquent, incl. thorough sex diagnosis, psychological diagnosis of the personality, a detailed analysis of controlling and recognizing ability of the time of the crime and they submit suggestions for health measures.     

The supervision of mentally disordered offenders: the work of probation officers and their relationship with psychiatrists in England and Wales

This article presents data from a study which has provided evidence of probation officers’ close involvement with some of the most hard to help psychiatric patients and of the nature of their working relations with psychiatrists. Given the burden of responsibility they carry, and the training deficiencies they report, it is clear that probation officers could work more confidently and effectively in this field if there were more opportunities for consultation and shared working with the psychiatric services. We conclude with some suggestions for improving collaboration between psychiatrists and probation officers.     

Mentally retarded adolescent sex offenders. A survey and pilot study

There is not a great deal of empirical research on adolescent sex offenders and even less on mentally retarded adolescent sex offenders. This study provides some preliminary data in this area. Results of a survey of the extent and types of sexual problems evident amongst groups of mentally retarded and intellectually normal adolescents (N = 196), seen at an assessment and treatment centre in southwestern Ontario during a 14 month period is presented. In addition three groups of ten adolescents each (mentally retarded and intellectually normal sex offenders and one group of mentally retarded non-offenders with behavioural problems) were investigated to gain a more indepth perspective of characteristics of these adolescents and their backgrounds. Considering the high recidivism rate for these groups, indications for treatment are discussed with special consideration for the mentally retarded offenders.     

Assessment and treatment of sex offenders: the Prince of Wales Programme

The treatment programme for sex offenders at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, is described. Penile circumference assessment is not used as there is no evidence it provides a valid measure of individuals' paedophile or rapist tendencies. Sex offenders' self-reports remain the major source of information in their assessment. The development of the two major techniques used--imaginal desensitization and short-term medroxyprogesterone--is outlined. About 80% of subjects can be expected to show a good response to one or other of these therapies. Of those who do not, most respond to the alternative or aversive therapy. Adolescent offenders appear to require more intensive treatment. Results appear comparable with those of more intensive programmes in use overseas.     

Perpetrators of homicide with schizophrenia: a national clinical survey in England and Wales

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have described rates of schizophrenia in a national sample of homicide perpetrators. This study aimed to describe this group's social and clinical characteristics, mental state features, offense details, and outcome in court. METHOD: Analyses used a national clinical survey that collected data on people convicted of homicide in England and Wales (1996-1999). Data were collected for those with schizophrenia or other delusional disorders from psychiatric reports and questionnaires. RESULTS: Of the 1,594 people convicted of homicide, 85 (5 percent) had schizophrenia. Of the 57 people with schizophrenia for whom data were available, 32 (56 percent) had been ill for less than 12 months, and in the month before the offense, 32 (56 percent) had shown a change in the quality, intensity, or conviction of or emotional response to their delusional beliefs. Twenty-four (28 percent) had no previous contact with psychiatric services. CONCLUSIONS: Regular assessment of delusions may help to detect an increased risk of violence, including homicide. More intensive care should be available for patients with a history of schizophrenia and previous violence.     

Age,sex and suicide rates within birth cohorts in England and Wales

Summary The relationships between suicide rates at different ages within male and female birth cohorts in England and Wales are examined. There is a sex difference in the pattern of mean correlations of within-cohort rates for various time intervals, with females showing a significant negative correlation between rates separated by 10–15 years. The full correlation matrix of age-specific rates indicates that this negative mean interval correlation is due to negative correlations between rates at age 35–44 years and rates at other ages. This suggests that the acceleration-deceleration model of suicide may be applicable to female rates, with a reduction in suicide associated with pregnancy and motherhood and a rebound increase in rates thereafter.     

Autopsy services for old age psychiatrists in England and Wales: A survey of consumer satisfaction

Anecdotal evidence suggests that some old age psychiatrists are dissatisfied and disillusioned with their local autopsy services, and so we carried out a postal survey to assess the extent of the problem. Our most striking finding was that over a quarter of old age psychiatrists are, indeed, dissatisfied with the way other organ systems were examined. This dissatisfaction is very strongly associated with services where autopsies on psychogeriatric patients are carried out by general histopathologists, especially where there is no established facility for the brain to be preserved and subsequently examined by a neuropathologist. The main complaint about neuropathologists was that reports sometimes took an unacceptable length of time to be returned to the clinician. The solution to the difficulties experienced by old age psychiatrists would be a closer association with their local neuropathology services, but whether neuropathologists are in a position to increase their workloads remains to be determined.     

A preliminary typology of young sex offenders

Data concerning all young (15-20 years, n = 56) sex offenders (YSOs) subjected to forensic psychiatric investigation in Sweden during 1988-1995 were used in an attempt to construct and validate an introductory YSO typology based solely on offence characteristics. A 5-cluster solution received optimal support from cluster analysis of 15 offence-related variables. A few historical and clinical characteristics varied across clusters. Survival analyses revealed that the clusters differed with respect to sexual but not to violent or general reconviction rates.     

Treatment of sex offenders with medroxyprogesterone acetate

Forty-eight male patients with long-standing histories of deviant sexual behavior received medroxyprogesterone acetate and milieu therapy for up to 12 months. Forty subjects responded positively, all within 3 weeks, with diminished frequency of sexual fantasies and arousal, decreased desire for deviant sexual behavior, increased control over sexual urges, and improvement in psychosocial functioning. Improvement in deviant sexual behavior and psychosocial functioning was maintained after treatment ended, and there was no evidence of permanent physiological changes. The author suggests that medroxyprogesterone acetate associated with counseling may be the treatment of choice for patients with long-term deviant sexual behavior. He discusses the ethical issues involved.     

Psychiatric morbidity in prisoners with intellectual disabilities: analysis of prison survey data for England and Wales

A substantial number of prisoners have intellectual disabilities. We analysed data on a sample drawn from all prisons in England and Wales. Intellectual disability was defined as Quick Test scores equivalent to an IQ of ≤65. We found a significantly higher prevalence of probable psychosis, attempted suicide and cannabis use in prisoners with intellectual disabilities. Presence of intellectual disability was twice as likely to be associated with probable psychosis but the relationship was fully mediated by self-rated health status. It is important to identify this group as early as possible in order to provide timely interventions to cope in adverse environments and manage substance misuse.     

性犯罪相关因素的综合性研究

目的探讨性犯罪的相关因素及预防措施。方法采用Olsen家庭问卷、艾森克人格问卷、WAIS-RC智力测验等测查工具,对78名性犯罪者和78名正常人对照,就家庭、个性、智力、社会环境等有关因素进行综合性分析。结果母孕期营养差、少年严重疾病、智能偏低、少年学习成绩差、少年品行障碍(如反复逃学、说谎、偷窃、打架斗殴、逃离家庭)、具有精神质(P)和神经质(N)等个体因素,研究组明显高于对照组。在家庭和社会环境方面:单亲家庭、父母文化水平低、家庭中有违法犯罪成员、对孩子管教方式不良、缺乏监督、不良结伴、追求享受、赌博、酗酒、坏人教唆等明显高于对照组,差异有显著性。结论预防性犯罪应采取综合措施,需要全社会的共同努力。