Some implications of prenatal alcohol exposure for the treatment of adolescents with sexual offending behaviors.
Prenatal alcohol exposure can seriously harm the fetus, resulting in a wide range of physical and central nervous system abnormalities. A follow-up study of persons prenatally exposed to alcohol found that 49% of adolescents and adults had repeatedly displayed inappropriate sexual behavior. While these persons are likely to present to sexual offender treatment programs, they are unlikely to be recognized as neurologically impaired because the sequelae of prenatal alcohol exposure are seldom accurately identified by clinicians. Persistent impairments in response inhibition, memory, and executive functions are common, requiring adaptations to standard sexual offender assessment and treatment.
Baumbach
Jeremy
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol