Sexual aggressors with mental disorders: characterization of a Tunisian sample

INTRODUCTION: Sexual violence is a worldwide public health concern. Nevertheless, the psychopathology of perpetrators of sexual assault still nowadays poorly documented. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics of sexual aggressors with mental disorders. METHODS: It was a retrospective study that included a series of sexual aggressors examined in forensic psychiatric assessment in the psychiatry C department at Hedi Chaker university Hospital in Sfax, from January 2010 to December 2021. Data were collected from psychiatric expert reports. RESULTS: The sample was exclusively composed of men with an average age of 37 years and 07 months (± 12.75 years). 54.4% of sexual aggressors suffered from mental disorder. Personality disorder was the most prevalent psychiatric disorder and the antisocial type was noted in 23.9% of cases. Sexual aggressors suffering from mental disorder were more likely to commit rape followed by murder (p=0.05). They used physical violence far more than the others did (p=0.007) and they were more apt to threaten their victims with weapon during the assault (p=0.038). They were also more likely to abuse the power given by their professional roles (15,2 % versus 5,6 %; p=0.07). They more frequently attacked unknown victims (p=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: More than half of sexual aggressors suffered from psychiatric disorder. Therefore, the detection and treatment of psychiatric morbidity among sexual aggressors may minimize the risk of recidivism. DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST: None Declared