ABSTRACT
The assessment of children and young people who sexually abuse others requires a comprehensive approach, which addresses a wide range of potential predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors. As described in chapter 1, our knowledge of the causation of sexually abusive behaviour is at an early stage in its development (see also Vizard et al., 1995). Many factors may be involved and it is therefore necessary to adopt an eclectic approach to assessment.
