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This article brings attention to cardinal principles to consider when implementing the Therapeutic Jurisprudence multidisciplinary approach with youth who are manifesting sustained coarse sexual improprieties and come to the attention of the judicial system. The obstacles of implementing therapeutic jurisprudence with this population include the persistent reliance of researchers on adult paradigms for risk assessment tools, along with treatment models that are not developmentally and gender sensitive, nor empirically supported for youth. Adherence to the scientific method is essential when constructing risk assessment tools that meet forensic standards. Applying the rich collateral paradigm of therapeutic jurisprudence within the context of valid and reliable measurements of intervention outcomes would immensely benefit those youth entangled with judicial systems who repeatedly are victims of abuse (neglect, maltreatment, physical and/or sexual). Youth who become entangled with the judicial system as dependents, and/or suspected or charged with criminal activity, need additional collateral resources geared toward ongoing developmental needs and specific to gender. Practical considerations and recommendations are made in contemplating expanding Therapeutic Jurisprudence with youth who engage in sustained sexually harmful behaviors to self and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prognostic utility of [MEGA.sup.[??]] was evaluated on a sample of 969 male and female youth without history of sexually-related probation or parole violation. Six month follow-up of 334 (34%) found a new sexually-related probation or parole violation occurred in 28 (8.4%). ROC findings showed Risk Scale significantly (p < .001) predictive of a new violation (AUC = .71 [95% CI = .62 to .80]). [MEGA.sup.[??]] Risk Scale scores added incremental prognostic utility over demographic variables (p < 0.001) and resulted in a net reclassification improvement of 31.5%. Contravention for youth ages 4 to 12 was defined as new reports of sexually abusive behaviors in three or more different locations, or sexual behaviors that included oral, anal, vaginal, direct skin to skin contact, and/or penetration. Post-hoc analysis found 8 youth (21%) experienced these outcomes. Risk Scale was significantly predictive (AUC = .77 [9% C.I. = .60 to .96; p = 0.016]). Keywords Risk assessment * Recidivism * Juvenile sex offenders * Adolescent sex offenders * Female sex offenders, Two types of risk assessment tools, actuarial and empirically guided, are available to the professional assessing risk for sexually abusive behaviors in youth, but only a few tools of either [...]

The Premenstrual Experience Assessment, a comprehensive questionnaire, was completed by 878 women who were currently having menstrual cycles. Their severity of premenstrual symptoms was studied in relation to demographic variables, gynecological problems, use of medications, psychiatric experience, life stressors, and duration of severity. 14 significant relationships were found. The findings are discussed both in terms of research and clinical practice.

The study explored the predictive validity of Multiplex Empirically Guided Inventory of Ecological Aggregates for Assessing Sexually Abusive Children and Adolescents (Ages 4 to 19) (MEGA♪;Miccio-Fonseca, 2006b), a comprehensive developmentally sensitive risk assessment outcome tool. MEGA♪ assesses risk for coarse sexual improprieties and/or sexually abusive behavior in male and female youth ages 4 to 19 years (adjudicated and nonadjudicated), including youth with low (i.e., borderline) intellectual functioning. MEGA♪ has 4 distinct risk scales with robust internal consistency reliability on cross-validation: Risk Scale (0.81), Protective Scale (0.78), Estrangement Scale (0.79), and Persistent Sexual Deviancy Scale (0.74). Sexual recidivism in cross-validation (N = 1,056) was 8.4%, defined as sexually related probation or parole violation (formal or informal). ROC analysis for Risk Scale demonstrated MEGA♪ has good predictive validity (AUC = .71, 95% CI of .62–.80, p < .001). Youth with low intellectual functioning scored significantly higher on the Risk Scale and Persistent Sexual Deviancy Scale, highlighting the importance of accurately assessing these youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response by L. C. Miccio-Fonseca and Lucinda A. Rasmussen to a letter to the editor about their article "New Nomenclature for Sexually Abusive Youth: Naming and Assessing Sexually Violent and Predatory Offenders" is presented