The relevance of personality and sexual traumata for sexual offenders in forensic psychiatry

Background: Studies in forensic psychiatry indicate that persons in prison and psychologically disturbed sexual offenders have a high degree of traumatic experiences. But less is known about other specific risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which the diagnoses and traumata of sexual offenders differ from those of non-sexual offenders. Method: 51-male, German, forensic psychiatric patients were examined. Various self-evaluation questionnaires served to ascertain dissociative and general psychopathology and interpersonal problems. Results: No significant correlations were found between sexual offences and forensic or socio-demographic variables. Nor was it possible to identify any differences in dissociative and psychopathological factors between sexual offenders and non-sexual offenders. However, the comparison between these groups showed that the former more frequently reported sexual abuse in their biographies and the diagnosis more frequently indicated a narcissistic personality disorder. But the logistic regression analysis coupled with age pointed to only sexual abuse in childhood as a significant factor. Conclusion: Our data support the idea that one's own traumatic experiences are reproduced later. That indicates the significance of dealing with traumatic experiences in childhood for this group of offenders.