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.
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The Response to Treatment scale is available on request from the first author.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The research described in this paper was part of a dissertation submitted by the first author (CML) in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the PhD degree at the University of Toronto. The dissertation research was supervised by the second author (HEB). Portions of this research were presented at the 2002 annual meeting of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. The authors thank their research assistants, Heidi Marcon and Michele Adams, as well as the staff of the WSBC, and the offenders. Ray Blanchard, Karl Hanson, and three anonymous reviewers are also thanked for their valuable comments on earlier drafts of this work. Sylvia Langton's assistance in preparing the manuscript is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also acknowledge financial support for the research described in the article from the Correctional Service of Canada, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Ontario Mental Health Foundation. All opinions expressed in the paper are the sole opinions of the authors and do not reflect opinions or policy of the Correctional Service of Canada or any other agency.
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Langton, C.M., Barbaree, H.E., Harkins, L. et al. Sex Offenders’ Response to Treatment and its Association with Recidivism as a Function of Psychopathy. Sex Abuse 18, 99–120 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11194-006-9004-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11194-006-9004-5