Male mentally handicapped sex offenders.
BACKGROUND
Sex offences are overrepresented in the mentally handicapped, but information about the characteristics and offence behaviour of this group is limited.


METHODS
A retrospective case note survey was made of 47 male patients referred for antisocial sexual behaviour.


RESULTS
Of 191 offences and/or incidents committed, 55.5% were heterosexual, 24% indecent exposure, 12.4% homosexual, 13.6% serious and 3.6% involved physical assault. Average age of the offenders was 23.9 years, with a mean IQ of 59.5, and there was a high prevalence of family psychopathology, psychiatric illness, minor physical disabilities, sexual experience, impaired relationship skills and sexual recidivism. Recidivists showed a low specificity for offence type and age and sex of victim. Categorical analysis differentiated a 'sex offences only' group from a 'sex plus other offences' group in the key areas of psychopathology, offence behaviour and outcome; this was supported by factor analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of two subgroups of mentally handicapped male sex offenders has important implications for prevention, assessment and treatment.
Day
K
K
Department of Psychiatry, Northgate and Prudhoe NHS Trust, Northgate Hospital, Morpeth, Northumberland.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010262:Paraphilic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011606:Psychosexual Development; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*