NCJ Number
170124
Date Published
1997
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The relapse prevention model developed for adult sex offenders is useful for treatment of sexually abusive adolescents, despite difficulties in modifying it for this age group.
Abstract
The relapse prevention model was originally developed for use with drug abusers. It aims to teach behavioral and cognitive skills to prevent relapse from occurring or to minimize the extent of a relapse. The model's elements include abstinence, offense precursors, seemingly unimportant decisions, high-risk factors, the relapse process, lapses, maladaptive coping responses, the abstinence violation effect, the adaptive coping response, and relapse. Treatment introduces the sexual abuser to the model and to the abuse cycle model. Treatment follows a comprehensive, individual assessment. Relapse prevention focuses both on internal self-management and the external/supervisory dimension. The adolescent's family or caregivers should be involved in relapse prevention. Relapse prevention for adolescents should also be more behaviorally oriented than for adult offenders and should place more focus on the external dimension. Monitoring sources tend to be more numerous and arguably more reliable with adolescents than with adults; diversion from high-risk situations is also more feasible. The full relapse prevention model is too complex for many young sexual abusers. Treatment personnel should also avoid telling adolescents that cure is impossible and should be prepared to innovate in the interest of their clients. Checklists