First report of the collaborative outcome data project on the effectiveness of psychological treatment for sex offenders.
This meta-analytic review examined the effectiveness of psychological treatment for sex offenders by summarizing data from 43 studies (combined n = 9,454). Averaged across all studies, the sexual offence recidivism rate was lower for the treatment groups (12.3%) than the comparison groups (16.8%, 38 studies, unweighted average). A similar pattern was found for general recidivism, although the overall rates were predictably higher (treatment 27.9%, comparison 39.2%, 30 studies). Current treatments (cognitive-behavioral, k = 13; systemic, k = 2) were associated with reductions in both sexual recidivism (from 17.4 to 9.9%) and general recidivism (from 51 to 32%). Older forms of treatment (operating prior to 1980) appeared to have little effect. Future directions for improving the quality of sex offender treatment outcome evaluations are discussed.
Hanson
R Karl
RK
Department of the Solicitor General of Canada, 340 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Canada K1A 0P8. hansonk@sgc.gc.ca
Gordon
Arthur
A
Harris
Andrew J R
AJ
Marques
Janice K
JK
Murphy
William
W
Quinsey
Vernon L
VL
Seto
Michael C
MC
D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome