Exploring the Use of Neurofeedback with an Adult Male with an Autistic Spectrum Condition and a History of Sexual Offending: A Single Case Study

ABSTRACT

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Autism
• ASC
• Neurofeedback
• case study
• sexual offending

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Yolanda Spicer-Martinez and Robin Miller for their help and support with the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).