Sexual predators

Social responses to sex-offending behaviors have included criminal sanctions and clinical interventions that have evolved over time. These developments have created various challenges for mental health professionals charged with providing care to offenders, particularly when legislative expectations have exceeded available treatments. A summary is provided of recent clinical developments in assessments, therapies, and pharmacology. The usefulness of SRIs, in particular, may prompt the involvement of more psychiatrists in this treatment. Other implications for future practice of these clinical and legal developments are also discussed.