Dr Dustin O'Shannessy1, Dr Danielle Shumack1, Ms Emily Maple1, Mr Michael Holland1, Prof John Rynne1
1Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, Australia
Biography:
Dr. Dustin (Dusty) O'Shannessy completed his PhD through the School of Psychology at Griffith University. He has been employed at the Griffith Youth Forensic Service as a senior researcher since the beginning of 2023. He works closely with clinical practitioners to advance the knowledge base on youth with harmful sexual behaviours, their presentation, aetiology, and their treatment. Dusty is passionate about advancing understanding of developmental risk factors, especially trauma, in the lives of justice-involved youth.
Abstract:
Understanding the psychological vulnerabilities of youth with harmful sexual behaviours (HSBs) is important to understanding the risk factors and mechanisms underlying offence behaviours. The primary aim of this study was to describe the breadth of mental disorders present in Australian youth with HSBs. The secondary aim was to examine comorbidities in greater detail through adjusted odds ratios (AORs). Clinicians reviewed case files for 361 participants (M age = 16.02 years, SD = 1.38) engaged by the justice system for a sexual offence committed during adolescence and referred to a specialist service in Queensland. Presence of diagnoses was coded from these files. Of the sample, 57.89% were European Australians, 34.35% were First Nations Australians, and 7.76% were culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Australians. Of the sample, 85.32% had one or more psychiatric diagnoses. There were particularly high prevalence rates for disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders (47.65%), neurodevelopmental disorders (47.09%), substance-related disorders (43.49%), trauma disorders (37.95%), and mood disorders (38.78%). Rates for individual disorders are also discussed. AORs highlight links between certain disorders and point towards clinically relevant mechanisms implicated in HSBs, with a focus on neurodevelopmental disabilities and trauma. Our study limitations reflect difficulties in real-world practice, in that youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds and living in rural or remote locations often have limited access to qualified diagnostic professionals, and diagnostic validity may vary depending on the ethnic backgrounds of youth. Findings are relevant to professionals working in the area of youth justice in understanding influences on HSBs and treatment.