Neuropsychological impairment in incest offenders

Ninety-one incest perpetrators were compared to 36 nonviolent nonsex offenders for the presence of neuropsychological impairment. The WAIS-R, Halstead-Reitan battery, and CT scans of the brain were used. The sex offenders were also examined for the presence of substance abuse, violence, pedophilia, and biological relationship to the victim. Incest offenders had significantly lower IQ scores than controls but generally were within normal limits. One in eight incest offenders was neuropsychologically impaired on the Reitan battery and one in four showed some CT abnormality, usually in the temporal lobe areas. Incest and offender control groups, however, did not differ significantly in this respect. Neuropsychological impairment among incest offenders was associated with violence and nonbiological relationship to the victim but not with substance abuse or pedophilia. Overall, 3 in 10 incest offenders showed some neuropsychological finding. Results suggest that neuropsychological assessment of incest offenders clinically is worthwhile.