What does this research mean for the field?

In forensic evaluations of alleged child sexual offences, most defendants retain full or mildly diminished criminal responsibility, and strict adherence to diagnostic criteria often reveals alternative explanations like personality pathology or cognitive deficits rather than true paedophilia. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to describe patterns in forensic psychiatric evaluations related to sexual offences against minors and identify factors influencing responsibility opinions.

June 6, 2026The Journal of Sexual Medicine

(564) Criminal Responsibility in Court-Ordered Assessments of Alleged Sexual Offences Against Minors: Clinical Determinants from a Tertiary Forensic Psychiatric Service

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This study aims to describe patterns in forensic psychiatric evaluations related to sexual offences against minors and identify factors influencing responsibility opinions.
Retrospective descriptive case series of N=15 evaluations from a tertiary forensic psychiatric service.
Included file reviews, psychiatric interviews, psychological tests, and neuroimaging when necessary.
Variables analyzed included offence context, cognitive impairment, personality disorders, substance use, and responsibility opinions.
No cases met ICD-10 criteria for paedophilia at the time of opinion.
10/15 defendants retained full responsibility; 4/15 had diminished, non-substantial responsibility; 1/15 had substantially diminished responsibility due to severe intellectual disability.
Security measures were recommended in 2/15 cases, with most evaluations indicating fitness to stand trial.

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Implication

Retrospective case series explores diagnostic patterns and responsibility in minors' sexual offence assessments, suggesting clinical implications.

Cite This Study

Arbanas et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a23bb2071a5da9775e76b6f https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdag118.496

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Implication

Retrospective case series explores diagnostic patterns and responsibility in minors' sexual offence assessments, suggesting clinical implications.

(564) Criminal Responsibility in Court-Ordered Assessments of Alleged Sexual Offences Against Minors: Clinical Determinants from a Tertiary Forensic Psychiatric Service

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

(564) Criminal Responsibility in Court-Ordered Assessments of Alleged Sexual Offences Against Minors: Clinical Determinants from a Tertiary Forensic Psychiatric Service

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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