Resistance to treatment of adolescent sex offenders

Little information is available concerning adolescent sexual offenders and their response to treatment. Of 45 sex offenders treated in two studies, 6 were adolescents and 21 of the 39 adults reported that their deviant behavior had commenced before or during adolescence. All 6 adolescents presented for treatment only following detection of their offenses, which in 3 led to legal charges. Of the 39 adults, 12 sought treatment voluntarily. Subjects were randomly allocated to receive covert sensitization, imaginal desensitization, medroxyprogesterone, or imaginal desensitization plus medroxyprogesterone. The response of the adults was equivalent to the best reported in the literature. Seven of the 39 required additional treatment, 3 being charged for further sexual offenses. Four of the 6 adolescents required additional treatment, 3 being charged with further sexual offenses. These differences were statistically significant. Adolescent sexual offenders may be more resistant to treatment because their sexual urges are under more direct hormonal control whereas in adults sexual urges are in part under the control of behavior completion mechanisms. Sexual offenses in adolescence need to be considered as at least as significant as those of adults, and more intensive follow-up treatment appears indicated in their management.