Relationship between sexual offences and mental and developmental disorders: a review

Authors

  • Alexandre Martins Valença Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Institute of Psychiatry
  • Isabella Nascimento Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Institute of Psychiatry
  • Antonio Egidio Nardi Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Institute of Psychiatry

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832013000300004

Keywords:

Sexual crime, sexual offence, mental disorder, mental retardation, developmental disability

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sexual violence is a serious public health problem that concerns and faces our society. The prevalence, magnitude and consequences of this problem have merited growing attention by health researchers and human rights scholars. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a review of the literature regarding the relationship between mental disorders, sexual offences and those of development. METHODS: A bibliographic research was performed in PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Lilacs, employing the terms "sexual crime", "sexual offence", "mental disorder", "mental retardation", "developmental disability" and its combinations. RESULTS: The mental disorders and developmental disorders more frequently related to the perpetration of sexual offences were schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and mental retardation. DISCUSSION: The detection and treatment of psychiatric morbidity among sexual offenders in health and criminal justice systems, which may contribute to a lower risk of recidivism of this sexual behaviour, is important.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2013-01-01

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 3 (2013)

Section

Review

License

Once accepted for publication, the manuscript becomes permanent property of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry. This copyright transfer subsumes exclusive and unlimited entitlement of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry to publish and distribute the full contents of articles in whichever publishing medium, including press and electronic media, in Brazil and abroad.

Manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that the Editor and the editorial staff have the right to make revisions aimed at greater conciseness, clarity, and conformity with Journal style, of course without changing its content.

How to Cite

Relationship between sexual offences and mental and developmental disorders: a review. (2013). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 40(3), 97-104. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832013000300004