[Treatment of individuals incarcerated for sexual offenses in the German prison system: approaches and empirical findings].

Sexual offenses cause significant individual and societal harm. Psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions are considered central components of relapse prevention. However, international evidence on the effectiveness of approaches for treating individuals incarcerated for sexual offenses is inconsistent and marked by methodological limitations. This review examines the current state of research in Germany. For this purpose, the literature was systematically reviewed. The aim is to summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of treatment approaches over the past 25 years and to assess it with particular attention to methodological aspects.Empirical studies indicate that treatment can have positive effects on general recidivism (i.e., reoffending after release). However, there is no clear evidence for a reduction in sexual reoffending. Treatment dropout was associated with higher recidivism rates. Studies examining changes in risk-relevant factors report some favorable developments, but the highly heterogeneous quality and methodology of these studies limit the strength of the conclusions that can be drawn.Overall, it is currently not possible to make a definitive judgment about the effectiveness of inpatient treatment programs for sexual offenders in Germany. There is a clear need for larger, methodologically robust studies with equivalent comparison groups and detailed documentation of treatment content in order to generate reliable evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions.