Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Both in the USA and the UK, approximately 20% of sexual assaults have been committed by juveniles under the age of 18. Comparable data have been found for sexual assaults in Switzerland (Swiss Federal Institute for Statistics, 2009). Thus, sexual crimes committed by juveniles represent a serious problem in society. Quite often adequate responding to juveniles who have sexually offended (JSO) is a major challenge for the judicial and social systems. In the interest of public safety and reduction of the risk of re-offending, courts have to decide on incarceration, detention placement, and treatment responses to JSO. A number of studies found that juveniles who have sexually offended (JSO) have deficits in social and sexual functioning. In order to prevent further offences by these youths, forensic treatment programs have been developed that include specific relapse preventions techniques and social skills training. However, so far it is unclear if these treatment programs for JSO work and may finally reduce the risk of further sexual and non-sexual reoffending. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate two versions of a treatment program for an adequate sexual behaviour.
Who can participate?
Juveniles of both sexes between 10 and 18 years who have been convicted of a sexual offence (other than pornography offences) in the Canton of Zurich or the Canton of Basel (Switzerland) may participate in the study.
What does the study involve?
Two versions of a sexual offender treatment program will be compared. One version includes specific relapse prevention techniques based on the understanding of the own offending behaviour, the other version includes training of social and emotional skills associated with juvenile sexual behaviour. JSOs will be allocated to one of the two treatment groups (at random) or will be included in a control group that will receive no treatment. The juvenile prosecutors will decide if a JSO receives treatment or is included in the control group. All participants will be invited to complete questionnaires at three assessment points at the beginning, after six month (post treatment) and after 12 month follow up.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Treatment is part of the sanction applied by the juvenile prosecutors and is not voluntary. However, JSO and their parents are free to decide if they participate in the study and complete the questionnaires. If a treatment is made compulsory by the juvenile prosecutors the participants will be informed that they will randomly allocated to one of the two treatments. It is expected that participants will benefit from social skills training and from teaching relapse prevention techniques equally in order to prevent further criminal behaviour. Participants will receive 50 Swiss Francs for each of the three assessment points of the study. There are no side effects of the two treatment conditions expected.
Where is the study run from?
The study is running in Zurich and Basel and includes two centres: 1) Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatry, University of Zurich and 2) Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatry of Basel. The lead centre is in Zurich.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study officially started on 01/10/2011and is expected to run until 30/03/2016. Recruitment and randomization will start on 07/12/2011 and end on 01/10/2014.
Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by the Swiss Department of Justice.
Who is the main contact?
Dr Cornelia Bessler
Cornelia.bessler@kjpdzh.ch
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Cornelia Bessler
ORCID ID
Contact details
Neptunstrasse 60
Zurich
8032
Switzerland
+41 43 556 40 40
cornelia.bessler@kjpdzh.ch
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Efficacy of relapse prevention techniques and social skills training for juveniles who have sexually offended: a randomized study
Acronym
Study hypothesis
1. Knowledge on individual risk factors for sexual re-offending will increase in juveniles who receive specific relapse prevention techniques compared to juveniles who receive social skills training
2. Social problems and withdrawal will decrease in juveniles who receive social skills training compared to juveniles who receive specific relapse prevention techniques
3. Do juveniles who receive specific relapse prevention techniques differ from juveniles who receive social skills training regarding self and official reported sexual and non-sexual recidivism?
Ethics approval
Local Ethics Committee of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, 17/11/2011 ref: KEK-ZH-Nr. 2010-0483
Study design
Longitudinal randomized blinded treatment study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Prevention
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Child and adolescent forensic psychiatry
Intervention
Treatment arm 1: Social skills training is conceptualized as a cognitive behavioural training that includes communication training, problem solving training, resistance against delinquent peers and enhancement of emotional skills.
Treatment arm 2: Relapse prevention techniques include the individual understanding of the own sexual crimes by self-analyzing of their own behaviours, thoughts and emotions before, during and after the offense. Juveniles are invited to identify own individual risk factors and to formulate alternative behaviours.
Both treatment arms consist of 12 sessions of 120 minutes within 3 to 4 months (1 session per week). Treatment can be applied in group or individual sessions. Both treatment arms, will include sexual and judicial education and victim empathy training.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Knowledge of individual risk factors, social problems and withdrawal measured using the Youth Self Report and RiskFact-KJ at the beginning, after six month (post treatment) and after 12 month follow up using self report instruments
Secondary outcome measures
Sexual and non-sexual recidivism assessed at the beginning, after six month (post treatment) and after 12 month follow up using self report instruments
Overall trial start date
01/10/2011
Overall trial end date
30/03/2016
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Juveniles of both sexes aged between 10-18 years who are officially adjudicated of a sexual offense other than pornography
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
80-120
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) < 70
2. Insufficient knowledge of the German language
3. Other serious violent offenses such as murder, manslaughter and serious assaults
4. Psychiatric disorders such as drug dependence, schizophrenia, major depression, suicidality and any form of paraphilia
5. Neurological disorders
Recruitment start date
07/12/2011
Recruitment end date
01/10/2014
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Switzerland
Trial participating centre
Neptunstrasse 60
Zurich
8032
Switzerland
Sponsor information
Organisation
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Service, Canton of Zurich (Switzerland)
Sponsor details
c/o Dr Cornelia Bessler
Neptunstrasse 60
Zurich
8032
Switzerland
+41 43 556 40 40
cornelia.bessler@kjpdzh.ch
Sponsor type
Government
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Swiss Department of Justice (Switzerland)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
Juvenile Prosecution of the Canton of Zurich (Switzerland)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list