Factors associated with treatment completion and progress among intrafamilial sexual abusers

Thirty-six father-daughter/stepdaughter sexual abusers, classified as regressed according to Groth's typology (1978b), were followed over the course of a 2-year outpatient treatment program. All were in treatment through a juvenile court ordered treatment plan. Twenty-five of the 36 were also criminally charged. Degree of personality disturbance, stress level, and substance abuse potential were recorded before beginning treatment. Twenty-three subjects completed the 2-year program and 13 did not. Completing subjects were rated on progress at posttreatment in terms of (a) emotional congruence, (b) sexual arousal, (c) blockage, (d) internal inhibitors, (e) acceptance of responsibility, and (f) empathy with the victim. The more personality disturbed subjects showed lower rates of program completion and attainment of empathy for the victim. Criminal prosecution was unrelated to completion and attendance, but was related to improved empathy and trends towards slightly higher progress ratings. The results support the importance of careful pretreatment personality assessment. In addition, involvement of the criminal justice system does not seem to interfere with therapeutic progress, and may actually be of limited therapeutic value.