Prevalence of pedophilia in a forensic psychiatric population in Switzerland : a comparative study of contact vs non-contact and pedophilic vs non-pedophilic offenders

Article Article scientifique Article Prevalence of pedophilia in a forensic psychiatric population in Switzerland : a comparative study of contact vs non-contact and pedophilic vs non-pedophilic offenders eng 2025-12-29 2025 author Anselmetti Clara author Renouard Céline author Murdocco Mathieu 427345 author Jantzi Camille 0009-0005-4147-7862 934150 Institut de médecine légale (COLEG) 1713195 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1713195 41532060 1664-0640 PMC12793104 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1713195/full Introduction : Sexual offenses against minors represent a major public health and judicial concern. Pedophilia, defined as a persistent sexual preference for prepubescent children, is frequently assessed in forensic psychiatry, particularly in the context of evaluating criminal responsibility and risk offending, yet its clinical significance and relationship to offending behavior remain debated. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pedophilia among individuals accused of sexual offenses against minors under 14 of age in Switzerland and to compare offenders with and without this diagnosis. Methods : A retrospective analysis was conducted on 51 male individuals referred for forensic psychiatric evaluation between 2018 and 2021 in Geneva. Data from forensic reports included sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric history, ICD-10 diagnoses, and offense details. Comparisons were performed between individuals accused of contact versus non-contact offenses, and secondarily between those with and without pedophilia. Results : Pedophilia was diagnosed in 58.8% of participants. This diagnosis was associated with higher rates of personality and substance use disorders. However, no significant differences were found between contact and non-contact offenders regarding the prevalence of pedophilia and no distinctive profile emerged within the pedophilic group. Discussion : These findings confirm the high prevalence of pedophilia in forensic populations and underscore their clinical heterogeneity. They highlight the need for comprehensive, individualized forensic assessments integrating diagnostic, contextual, and dispositional factors, and suggest that future research should further examine the interaction between pedophilic interests, self-control, and situational opportunities. Child sexual abuse material Child sexual offenders Criminology Forensic psychiatry Pedophilia Dewey 614.1 67 Institut de médecine légale 22A2 false Frontiers in psychiatry 16 54056b6b-2db1-426c-aaf3-eaf9944d0701 Article (Published version) Public Article_scientifique_from_unpaywall.pdf 577774 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 e7efa65da8cd3b1369489e0ab34c870f4311d0fc313d7b830df39204904c653b openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de santé et médecine communautaires / Institut de médecine légale

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Prevalence of pedophilia in a forensic psychiatric population in Switzerland : a comparative study of contact vs non-contact and pedophilic vs non-pedophilic offenders	Frontiers in psychiatry			2025	17	40

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Murdocco, Mathieu