RESULTS OF A TREATMENT PROGRAM WITH INCAR CERATED SEXUAL OFFENDERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

Members of the family of origin and spouses have been invited to take part in a cognitive-behavioral treatment programme for incarcerated se xual offenders to support the offender. Offenders arranged appointemen ts with their spouses, mothers, fathers and the therapist. A one-year follow-up reveals considerable change in denying and minimisation of r esponsibility, forcefulness and degree of sexual intrusiveness of both the offenders and the spouses. Both groups showed a better understand ing for and a more positive attitude to the offenders' sexuality. Furt hermore, both groups showed a significant increase in applying concept s of relapse prevention.