ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on raising awareness of issues to be considered in respect of sexual offenders with severe and enduring mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression with suicidal features. It considers the prevalence of psychopathology among sex offenders and offending by those with mental health difficulties, as well as sexual offending and mental health issues within offender populations. The chapter reviews research relating to intervention issues and provides guidance to those working with offender population. Until relatively recently, the issue of mental health problems in sexual offenders tended to be neglected, both in mental health services and prison services. Psychological treatment for sexual offenders has traditionally focused on cognitive-behavioural methodology, in particular relapse prevention techniques, and has been informed by certain models of offending, principally those of Finkelhor and Wolf. Clearly, psychological treatment for sexual offenders with mental health issues must consider, and incorporate where appropriate, principles of psychological treatment of severe mental health difficulties.
