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Effect of Sex Offenders Treatment Program on Cognitive and Emotional Characteristics of Mentally Ill Sex Offenders
Author(s) -
Kim JeongHyun,
Choi Sang Sub,
Rhee Moon Sung,
Kim Sun Bum,
Joung Ji Sook,
Kim Eun Hye
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02222.x
Subject(s) - recidivism , psychology , loneliness , ucla loneliness scale , clinical psychology , feeling , sex offense , cognition , sex offender , mentally ill , poison control , injury prevention , psychiatry , mental illness , sexual abuse , medicine , mental health , social psychology , medical emergency
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.