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Mental disorders in a forensic sample of sexual offenders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Anja Leue ,
Bernd Borchard  and
Jürgen Hoyer
Anja Leue*
Affiliation:
Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
Bernd Borchard
Affiliation:
State Forensic Hospital of Moringen, Moringen, Germany
Jürgen Hoyer
Affiliation:
Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail address: aleue@as200.zi-mannheim.de (A. Leue).
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Abstract

Objective

The present study examined the prevalence of DSM IV axis I disorders and DSM IV personality disorders among sexual offenders in Forensic State Hospitals in Germany.

Method

Current and lifetime prevalence rates of mental disorders were investigated based on clinical structured interviews among sexual offenders (n = 55). Additionally, subgroups were analyzed on the basis of diagnostic research criteria, with 30 sexual offenders classified as paraphiliacs and 25 sexual offenders as having an impulse control disorder (without paraphilia).

Results

Anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and substance use disorders were common among sexual offenders, as were cluster B and cluster C personality disorders. While social phobia was most common among paraphilic sexual offenders, major depression was most prevalent in impulse control disordered sexual offenders.

Conclusion

The results replicate recent findings of high psychiatric morbidity in sexual offenders placed in forensic facilities. Furthermore, differential patterns of co-morbid mental disorders were found in paraphiliacs and impulse control disordered sexual offenders. With regard to an effective therapy and relapse prevention co-morbid mental disorders should be a greater focus in the assessment of subgroups of sexual offenders.

Keywords

Sexual offendersParaphiliaImpulse control disorderAxis I disorderPersonality disorder
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 19 , Issue 3 , May 2004 , pp. 123 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 European Psychiatric Association

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