Efficacy of outpatient treatment of sex offenders.

The efficacy of sex offender treatment (SOT) is a matter of ongoing discussion and research in forensic psychotherapy. This study evaluates the efficacy of outpatient SOT after discharge from prison. Recidivism rates of participants treated in outpatient departments for sex offenders in Bavaria between 2008 and 2016 (treatment group, TG; n = 353) were compared with those of a matched group of released offenders without treatment (control group, CG; n = 353).