December 1, 2022

results of RCT into new therapy that could reduce level of child sex offending

The use of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is an international public health and child protection challenge.  Researchers at the Karolinska institute in Sweden conducted a global trial on the Darknet to investigate whether Prevent It, an eight week online cognitive behavioural therapy, reduces the use of CSAM viewing amongst users. 

The randomised controlled trial included 160 people, with half being given psychological placebo, and the other half a specially designed CBT treatment for CSAM users. The trial is the first of its kind in the world and involved people from all world regions. The results have been published in Internet Interventions.

The SMC invited the authors to an online briefing to explain the background to the trial, why we need new interventions to protect children, how people were recruited, and present the key findings.

Speakers included:

Dr Christoffer Rahm, Principal Investigator, Research group leader, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, and Chief Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Clinic South Stockholm

Johanna Lätth, Doctoral candidate, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Lic psychologist, Swedish Prison and Probation Service

This Briefing was accompanied by an SMC Roundup of Comments.