@article{ref1,
title="The Challenge Project: a treatment program evaluation for perpetrators of child sexual abuse",
journal="Child abuse and neglect",
year="1997",
author="Craissati, Jackie and McClurg, Grace",
volume="21",
number="7",
pages="637-648",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Research on treatment outcome for sex offenders has been poorly designed, with biased sampling, lack of controls, and a failure to define treatment programs, subjects, and outcome measures. This research aimed to compare group and individual treatment outcomes, with particular reference to program compliance and reoffending. METHOD: The Challenge Project assessed all 80 convicted perpetrators of child sexual abuse in S.E. London over a 2-year period, and followed them up 1 and 2 years later. The 43 perpetrators who were diverted into the community program received weekly standardized cognitive-behavioral treatment over a 1-year period. Subjects were matched on key variables and entered either group or individual therapy. RESULTS: Some treatment effects could be demonstrated in both group and individual therapy, particularly if individual changes in test scores were examined. Two variables were significantly associated with poor treatment compliance: A history of sexual and/or violent offending, and a history of childhood sexual victimization. However, only one subject had been convicted of a further sexual offense--possession of child pornography--at follow-up. CONCLUSION: The findings may support professionals in deciding how best to allocate scarce resources; and it is intended to extend the outcome study to at least a 5-year follow-up period, to see whether compliance and shifts in psychological measures are a valid predictor of outcome.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-2134",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}