Cognitive-behavioural treatment for men with intellectual disabilities and sexually abusive behaviour: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) seems to be becoming the treatment of choice for non-disabled sex offenders. Nevertheless, there have been relatively few evaluations of such treatment for men with intellectual disabilities (ID) and sexually abusive behaviour.


METHODS
A pilot study providing CBT for two groups of men with ID is described. Measures of change in sexual knowledge, victim empathy and cognitive distortions were collected, together with a log of further sexually abusive behaviour.


RESULTS
Fifteen men were offered treatment but some dropped out and some declined to take part in the research. The results for the eight men who consented to the research and completed treatment showed significant positive changes in sexual knowledge and victim empathy (two men completed both groups, making 10 sets of data in all). Cognitive distortions showed significant change on only one of the two measures. Some men showed further sexually abusive behaviour either during or after the treatment group (all had been previously diagnosed as on the autistic spectrum).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for a larger multi-site trial of treatment with a broad set of measures and the ability to analyse who benefits from such treatments and who does not.
Murphy
Glynis
G
Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK. g.h.murphy@kent.ac.uk
Powell
Simon
S
Guzman
Ana-Maria
AM
Hays
Sarah-Jane
SJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D004645:Empathy; D004739:England; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012008:Recurrence; D012736:Sex Education; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior