Sex Offenders’ Response to Treatment and its Association with Recidivism as a Function of Psychopathy

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between recidivism and ratings of response to specialized cognitive behavioral treatment conducted in a prison setting among 418 sex offenders released to the community for an average follow-up period of over 5 years. As well as testing for a main effect for treatment ratings, the potential role of psychopathy assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist--Revised (PCL-R) as a moderator of response to treatment was investigated. Ratings of response to treatment failed to predict either serious (violent including sexual) or sexual recidivism. For the more inclusive outcome of serious recidivism, there was no significant interaction between psychopathy and treatment ratings; however, the ubiquitous effect of psychopathy on recidivism was found to be significant. For sexual recidivism, psychopathy was not significant as a main effect, but a significant interaction between psychopathy and treatment ratings was found. Among sex offenders with PCL-R scores of 25 or higher, those with ratings reflecting a more negative response to treatment recidivated sexually at a faster rate than others. This interaction effect was not significant when treatment noncompleters were removed from the data set. The results were discussed in terms of the methodology involved in the assessment of response to treatment among sex offenders.

Predictors of sex offender treatment dropout: psychopathy, sex offender risk, and responsivity implications

“…Moreover, future research would be well advised to examine the relationship of the different facets of the PCL-R and treatment dropout to sexual and violent recidivism. There is an expanding literature to suggest that treatment behavior (Langton, Barbaree, Harkins, & Peacock, 2006) and treatment-related change (Looman, Abracen, Serin, & Marquis, 2005) among psychopathic offenders has important implications for treatment outcome. These and further avenues of research may provide empirical support to suggest that psychopathic sex offenders may derive some benefit from being retained in treatment.…”

Psychopathy: Assessment and Forensic Implications

“…Early indications are that such programs may help to reduce the seriousness of postrelease offending. 175 There also is some recent evidence that therapeutic progress in cognitive-behavioural programs, [178][179][180] as well as successful completion of such programs, 180-183 may be predictive of reduced recidivism rates among adolescent and adult offenders, including some with many psychopathic features.…”

Child Sexual Abusers’ Views on Treatment: A Study of Convicted and Imprisoned Adult Male Offenders

“…Those working with child sexual abusers are faced with the challenge of providing effective treatment and assuaging public concern about safety. Over the past two decades, much research has focused on the assessment and treatment of sexual offenders in the UK, United States, Australia, and Canada (e.g., Abracen & Looman, 2004Chaffin, 1994;Eastman, 2004;Frost, 2004;Houston, Wrench, & Hosking, 1995;Jenkins-Hall, 1994;Kear-Colwell & Boer, 2000;Langton, Barbaree, Harkins, & Peacock, 2006;Levenson & Macgowan, 2004;Lindsay, Neilson, Morrison, & Smith, 1998;Looman, Dickie, & Abracen, 2005;MacDonald, 1994;Marshall, 1996;Marshall, Anderson, & Fernandez, 1999;Marshall, Jones, Ward, Johnston, & Barbaree, 1991;McGrath, Cumming, Livingston, & Hoke, 2003;Petersilia, 1990;Polizzi, MacKenzie, & Hickman, 1999;Raynor & Vanstone, 1997;Schofield, 1994;Schweitzer & Dyer, 2003;Seager, Jellicoe, & Dhaliwal, 2004;Shanahan & Donato, 2001). Yet debate persists as to the effectiveness of treatment in reducing recidivism (Brooks-Gordon et al, 2004;Hanson et al, 2002;Matthews & Pitts, 1998;Schweitzer & Dwyer;Seager et al, 2004;Terry & Mitchell, 2001).…”