Goal attainment scaling with hospitalized sexual offenders

Forty-six hospitalized sex offenders participated in a 6-month evaluation of treatment outcome. This study used the concept of goal attainment scaling, an individualized, scaled description of personal goals, for measuring therapeutic outcome. Conjoint therapist and patient goal setting resulted in 180 treatment goals being set. At follow-up, 38 patients exceeded the "expected" success level on a total of 159 treatment goals, whereas eight patients only made minimal progress on 21 of their 40 selected goals. Despite the benign clinical improvement shown by most patients, few patients actually achieved the best anticipated level of attainment on all of their personal goals (usually three to six goals). Retrospective review of all goal attainment scaling protocols indicated that four major content dimensions account for nearly all of the goals devised: sexual deviation, 30 goals; anger and emotional expression, 64 goals; self concept, 31 goals; and poor interpersonal relations, 51 goals. These goal-oriented profiles may have important ramifications for the future assessment, program planning, and rehabilitation of convicted sex offenders.