Assessment and treatment of sexually abnormal behaviour

The category of sexual offending is a legal not a clinical one. However, many sex offenders may show elements of mental disorder, including personality disorder, affective disorder, substance abuse, organic brain syndrome or paraphilias, while a small proportion may have psychotic illnesses.

Sexually abnormal behaviour may present in psychiatric practice throughout the life span and may be seen by general, forensic, child and adolescent, or old age psychiatrists.

This module will enable psychiatrists and other health professionals to gain knowledge of the assessment and treatment of patients who commit sex offences or other criminal offences motivated by sexual factors.