title: The relationship of trauma exposure to sex offending behavior among male juvenile offenders.
abstract: The most common type of adult and juvenile sex offender treatment utilizes a Relapse Prevention (RP) model. In RP clients learn about their offense cycle with an emphasis on recognizing high-risk situations and negative emotional states that can be precursors or triggers to offending behavior. This study identifies ways that traumatic experiences and trauma-associated feelings can be offense triggers for juvenile sex offenders. Researchers interviewed the treating clinicians of 40 male juvenile sex offenders who received at least six months of RP sex offender treatment. Results showed that 95% of the youths had experienced a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Criterion A traumatic event and that 65% met criteria for PTSD based on clinician judgments. Overall, clinicians identified prior trauma exposure as being related to the offense triggers in 85% of offenders. Specifically, the following trauma-related feelings were identified as offense triggers: intense fear in 37.5% of sex offenders, helplessness in 55%, and horror in 20%. Implications for sex offender treatment programs are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Tufts University Medical School, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: McMackin
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Leisen
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cusack
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: LaFratta
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Litwin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States