The effectiveness of treatment for sexual offenders: a comprehensive meta-analysis

In their 2005 review of the literature, Lösel and Schmucker found that interventions for sexual offending had an equivalent effect in reducing non-sexual offending.

“Indeed, Lösel and Schmucker found in their 2005 review of the literature that interventions for sexual offending had an equivalent effect in reducing non-sexual offending (Lösel 2005).”

Interventions for sexual offending had an equivalent effect in reducing non-sexual offending.

“Lösel and Schmucker found in their 2005 review of the literature that interventions for sexual offending had an equivalent effect in reducing non-sexual offending (Lösel 2005).”

Current practice recommends that complementary psychological interventions be employed alongside pharmacological agents.

“current practice recommends that complementary psychological interventions be employed alongside pharmacological agents (Lösel 2005; Briken 2007)”

Our restriction to studies with a randomised design explains why our conclusions are discrepant with those of other reviews that included evidence from non-randomised trials.

“An additional limitation was our restriction to studies with a randomised design, which explains why our conclusions are discrepant with those of other reviews (e.g., Lösel 2005), which included evidence from non-randomised trials.”

The Lösel and Schmucker review found a large effect size for surgical castration (OR 15.34; 95% CI 7.34 to 32.05; eight studies).

“Main results featured a large effect size for surgical castration (odds ratio (OR) 15.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.34 to 32.05; eight studies)”

Lösel and Schmucker's systematic review of controlled outcome studies of all relevant interventions included 80 comparisons involving data from 22,181 participants.

“Lösel and Schmucker conducted a thorough systematic review of controlled outcome studies of all relevant interventions, which included 80 comparisons involving data from 22,181 participants (Lösel 2005).”

The Lösel and Schmucker review cast its net very widely, with 60% of the studies considered to be of non-equivalent design (only six were RCTs).

“Similarly, the review by Lösel and Schmucker cast its net very widely, with 60% of the studies considered to be of non-equivalent design (only six were RCTs) (Lösel 2005).”

The Lösel and Schmucker review included data from both published and unpublished studies reported up to June 2003.

“This review included data from both published and unpublished studies reported up to June 2003.”

The Lösel and Schmucker review found a moderate effect size for CBT (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.86; 35 studies).

“This compared to a moderate effect size for CBT (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.86; 35 studies).”

The Lösel and Schmucker review found a reasonably large effect size for hormonal treatment (OR 3.08; 95% CI 1.40 to 6.79; six studies).

“and a reasonably large effect size for hormonal treatment (OR 3.08; 95% CI 1.40 to 6.79; six studies).”

In the Lösel and Schmucker review, 11.1% of treated offenders and 17.5% of controls showed sexual recidivism (a 37% difference) when both pharmacological and psychological treatments were considered.

“Overall, 11.1% of the treated offenders and 17.5% of the controls showed sexual recidivism (a 37% difference) when both pharmacological and psychological treatments were considered.”

The Lösel and Schmucker review's authors noted that the interventions were effective in reducing reoffending in general.

“The authors also noted that the interventions were effective in reducing reoffending in general.”