Assessment and treatment of sex offenders in the Czech Republic and in Eastern Europe

The author describes the experiences with the comprehensive therapeutic pro gram for sexual offenders in the Czech republic. Since 1976, specialized de partments for treatment of these patients were established in psychiatric h ospitals. The treatment is imposed by the court per the recommendation of f orensic experts-especially for paraphilic offenders. As a rule, inpatient t herapy is followed by treatment in outpatient sexological departments. The therapeutic goals are as follows: adjustment of behaviour acquisition of in formation, overcoming defensive mechanisms and creating insight, strengthen ing of conscious control, changes in attitudes and values, sexual adaptatio n, and social reintegration. These goals are achieved by means of a set of diagnostic, psychotherapeutic, pharmacotherapeutic, and social measures inc luding penile plethysmography, individual and group psychotherapy (in their psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral forms), antiandrogen suppression an d social interventions. The recidivity rate has been relatively low (less t han 20%) and justifies the existence of this specialized form of treatment.