TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the Use of Neurofeedback with an Adult Male with an Autistic Spectrum Condition and a History of Sexual Offending
T2 - A Single Case Study
AU - Borghino, Sonia
AU - Gallacher, Marina
AU - Lawrence, Daniel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2022/10/4
Y1 - 2022/10/4
N2 - Conventional treatment for individuals with histories of sexual offending has typically involved the facilitation of cognitive-behavioral interventions. Recent research related to this form of intervention has raised concerns about its effectiveness. Neurofeedback has been found to be a beneficial form of treatment for a range of clinical presentations internationally. Despite this, its use in the UK has thus far been limited. Based on the theoretical literature related to sexual offending, as well as findings that Neurofeedback can be beneficial for people who experience problems resulting from trauma, emotional instability, harmful behaviors toward others, those with developmental disorders, and for those who have struggled to engage with and/or benefit from talking therapies. Neurofeedback was carried out with an individual in a UK-based secure mental health setting. This individual, referred to as John in the current study, presented to services with an Autism Spectrum Condition, mild Intellectual Disability and a diagnosis of pedophilia, as well as a history of sexual offending against children and vulnerable adults. John had engaged in many treatment programs over many years with little evidence of significant benefit. Psychometric measures as well as qualitative feedback was used to evaluate any change experienced by John following Neurofeedback and the use of the Reliable Change Index revealed significant improvements in relation to depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive type patterns of responding, child sexual arousal, sexual compulsivity, and sexual preoccupation. Whilst our findings are modest they do provide tentative support for the use of Neurofeedback for people with similar presenting difficulties to John and those in similar circumstances. Implications and recommendations are discussed.
AB - Conventional treatment for individuals with histories of sexual offending has typically involved the facilitation of cognitive-behavioral interventions. Recent research related to this form of intervention has raised concerns about its effectiveness. Neurofeedback has been found to be a beneficial form of treatment for a range of clinical presentations internationally. Despite this, its use in the UK has thus far been limited. Based on the theoretical literature related to sexual offending, as well as findings that Neurofeedback can be beneficial for people who experience problems resulting from trauma, emotional instability, harmful behaviors toward others, those with developmental disorders, and for those who have struggled to engage with and/or benefit from talking therapies. Neurofeedback was carried out with an individual in a UK-based secure mental health setting. This individual, referred to as John in the current study, presented to services with an Autism Spectrum Condition, mild Intellectual Disability and a diagnosis of pedophilia, as well as a history of sexual offending against children and vulnerable adults. John had engaged in many treatment programs over many years with little evidence of significant benefit. Psychometric measures as well as qualitative feedback was used to evaluate any change experienced by John following Neurofeedback and the use of the Reliable Change Index revealed significant improvements in relation to depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive type patterns of responding, child sexual arousal, sexual compulsivity, and sexual preoccupation. Whilst our findings are modest they do provide tentative support for the use of Neurofeedback for people with similar presenting difficulties to John and those in similar circumstances. Implications and recommendations are discussed.
KW - ASC
KW - Autism
KW - Neurofeedback
KW - case study
KW - sexual offending
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85139419849&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/24732850.2022.2130736
DO - 10.1080/24732850.2022.2130736
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85139419849
SN - 2473-2850
JO - Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice
JF - Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice
ER -