Recidivism in pedophiles: an investigation using different diagnostic methods

• Published in: The journal of forensic psychiatry & psychology 2009-10, Vol.20 (5), p.680-701
• Main Authors: Moulden, Heather M., Firestone, Philip, Kingston, Drew, Bradford, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; assessment; Biological and medical sciences; Child abuse; child molester; Diagnosis; Eating behavior disorders; Evaluation; Medical sciences; Offenders; Paedophilia; pedophilia; phallometry; Psychiatrists; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Recidivism; Recidivists; Sexual abuse; Social behavior disorders. Criminal behavior. Delinquency; Teaching hospitals; Techniques and methods
• ISSN: 1478-9949; 1478-9957
• DOI: 10.1080/14789940903174055

The relationship between pedophilia and recidivism was examined in a sample of 206 extra-familial child molesters assessed at a university teaching hospital between 1982 and 1992. To address definitional issues, pedophilia was defined in one of four ways: (1) a DSM diagnosis made by a psychiatrist; (2) a deviant phallometric profile; (3) a combination of DSM diagnosis and deviant phallometric results; and, (4) high scores based on the Screening Scale for Pedophilic Interest (SSPI; Seto & Lalumière, 2001). Of the various definitions for pedophilia only phallometric assessment (PAI) distinguished between sexual recidivists and nonrecidivists. Overall recidivism rates were 22.8%, 33.9%, and 45.6% for sexual, violent, and any reoffence, respectively. No differences were found between pedophiles and nonpedophiles with respect to recidivism rates, regardless of how pedophilia was defined. Based on these results, the utility of the DSM diagnosis of pedophilia for the purpose of predicting future reoffending is discussed.