Suchergebnisse

Changes in motivational levels occurring during various stages of treatment (institutional and community) were measured among 101 federally sentenced sexual offenders in the Ontario region. Motivation was conceptualized as a dynamic process that can be construed from behavioral referents and more global evaluations of internal featureslreadinesslpsychological stance. Five motivational indices were examined: acceptance of guilt for the offense; acceptance of personal responsibility for the offense; disclosure of personal information; motivation to change behavior; and participation in treatment. Offender scores on these indices were evaluated using the Goal Attainment Scaling protocol (T. Hogue, 1994), at four stages of the treatment process: (1 ) at institutional assessment, (2) following institutional treatment, (3) upon conditional release to the community, and (4)following a 12-week period of community treatment. Results showed that motivation to change sexually deviant behavior was higher at the end of institutional treatment relative to the initial assessment. However, levels of motivation decreased upon conditional release to the community, with few offenders making significant rebounds following 12 weeks of community treatment. Admission of guilt and acceptance of personal responsibility (measured at community treatment) were both significantly associated with treatment outcome.

The impact of cognitive-behavioral interventions was assessed for 28 low-moderate risk and 20 high-risk sexual offenders on conditional release to the Greater Toronto Area. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS—T. Hogue, 1994) for sexual offenders was used to rate clinical and motivational elements of treatment taken from reports written at pretreatment, posttreatment, and after 3 months of community follow-up. Results indicated that both groups of offenders benefited from treatment, although low-moderate risk offenders showed consistently better results on all measures. Performance along nonrelapse prevention related dimensions increased from pretreatment to posttreatment and remained relatively steady in the community. Relapse prevention related treatment components showed a steady increase from pretreatment throughout follow-up in the community for low-moderate risk offenders, but not for high-risk offenders. Both groups improved substantially in level of motivation from pretreatment to posttreatment; however, only those in the low-moderate risk group maintained their motivation levels once released to the community. These results are discussed with respect to the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral treatment of sexual offenders.