title: History of abuse and organic difficulties in a convenience sample of 46 ultra-orthodox males with pedophilia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence has started to accumulate that relates pedophilia to a history of being a victim of sexual abuse as well as to comorbidity with organic vulnerabilities. During a naturalistic study regarding treatment of pedophilia, the authors had access to clinical and psychodiagnostic evaluations of Israeli Jewish ultraorthodox male pedophiles outside the forensic system. Using psychiatric examination as well as a battery of psychological tests, presence of history of trauma as well as comorbidity with organic vulnerabilities among this unique sub-group was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  This survey was part of a larger scale research on the effectiveness of Decapeptyl injections as treatment for pedophilia. All participants in the original research underwent comprehensive psychological assessment including an extensive clinical interview as well as psychological tests (Bender, Rorschach and TAT). Of the patients participating in the research, this survey focused on the group of 46 ultra-orthodox male pedophiles. Cross-tabs analyses were conducted in order to examine prevalence of history of trauma and organic vulnerabilities in this specific group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on self reports combined with corroborating reports (obtained from parents, educators and medical staff), together with indications in psychological tests, we found that 82.6% of participants were victims of sexual trauma as children and 87% suffer from some kind of organic vulnerability (learning disabilities, disinhibitions, etc.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LIMITATIONS of this small convenience sample that influence ability to generalize are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current survey indicates that in this sample, the ultra-orthodox male pedophile was frequently a victim of childhood sexual trauma, and exhibited indications of organic vulnerabilities. This is more pronounced than findings in previous studies, and calls for further research in order to understand the underlying causes.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Eliezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Witztum
authors.forename: Netzer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Daie
authors.forename: Ayala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daie-Gabai
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000208:ethnology; D007599:Judaism / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D010378:Pedophilia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*