Latent profiles identified from psychological test data for people convicted of sexual offences in the U.K.

Gillespie, Steven ORCID: 0000-0001-7789-5381 and Elliott, Ian (2023) Latent profiles identified from psychological test data for people convicted of sexual offences in the U.K. British Journal of Psychiatry, 223 (6). pp. 555-561.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2023.126

Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>One size does not fit all in assessment and intervention for people with convictions for sexual offences. Crime scene indicators and risk-related variables have been used to identify distinct clusters of people with convictions for sexual offences, but there is a need for more robust typologies that identify clusters based on psychologically meaningful risk factors that can be targeted in treatment.<h4>Aims</h4>To use robust modelling techniques to identify latent profiles of people with convictions for sexual offences based on indicators of dynamic risk.<h4>Method</h4>Adult male participants, who had been convicted for sexual offences and assessed for eligibility for the prison-based Core Sex Offender Treatment Programme delivered by His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (UK), were randomly allocated to a test (<i>n</i> = 1577: 70.2%) or validation (<i>n</i> = 668: 29.8%) data-set. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to select measures of dynamic risk from psychological test data. EFA indicated four factors, from which six measures were selected for inclusion in latent profile analysis.<h4>Results</h4>Five latent profiles were identified in the test and validation data-sets. These were labelled low psychological impairment, impulsive, distorted thinker, rape preoccupied and child fantasist. Profiles varied in individual characteristics, offence histories, victim preferences and level of risk.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Our findings should be used to guide assessment and intervention practices that are tailored to distinct psychological profiles consistent with principles of risk, need and responsivity.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Psychological Tests, Crime, Sex Offenses, Rape, Adult, Child, Male, United Kingdom
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2023 08:40
Last Modified:	06 Jan 2024 01:15
DOI:	10.1192/bjp.2023.126
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3173579