Effect of Sex Offenders Treatment Program on Cognitive and Emotional Characteristics of Mentally Ill Sex Offenders |
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| Authors: | Jeong‐Hyun Kim MD PhD Sang Sub Choi MD PhD Moon Sung Rhee MD Sun Bum Kim MSW Ji Sook Joung PhD Eun Hye Kim MSW |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Mental Health & Behavioral Medicine Services for Clinical Departments, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, , Bundang‐gu, Seongnam‐si, Gyeonggi‐do 463‐707, Korea;2. Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, , Bonggok‐ri, Banpo‐myun, Gongju‐si, Chungcheongnam‐do, 314‐716, Korea |
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| Abstract: | This study assessed the effect of a 10‐week cognitive behavior treatment program in 30 mentally ill sex offenders. The effect of the program was evaluated using the Interpersonal Responsiveness Index (IRI), UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLALS), Coping Using Sex Inventory (CUSI), and Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (RMAS). Data were analyzed using the paired t‐test. The ability of sex offenders to cope with sexual acts when they faced stressful situations and to accept the rape myth was significantly improved on CUSI (t = 2.09, p = 0.04) and RMAS (t = 5.45, p < 0.001). Feelings of isolation and the ability to empathize based on IRI (t = 0.62, p = 0.54) and UCLALS (t = 0.88, p = 0.38) were not significantly improved. To prevent recidivism, treatment for mentally ill sex offenders should focus on changes in their cognitive and emotional characteristics in addition to their main psychiatric illness. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science forensic psychiatry sex offender cognitive behavior treatment program mentally ill recidivism |
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