Research

Multi-state Recidivism Study Using Static-99 and Static-2002 Risk Scores and Tier Guidelines from the Adam Walsh Act

Michael Miner, PhD, is a co-principal investigator of this study which is funded by the National Institute of Justice of the U.S. Department of Justice. This study is the first comprehensive investigation of risk assessment procedures and their predictive validity with samples of American sex offenders.

The principal aim of this study is to examine how well the Adam Walsh Act (AWA) classification categories predict sexual offender recidivism compared with the Static-99, an actuarial risk assessment instrument.

Additional study goals include using Static-99 scores to further examine the risk distribution of Tier III (high risk) offenders as defined by the AWA, determining whether other extant classification schemes accurately predict recidivism, and determining whether type of notification (e.g. aggressive, passive, Internet) is related to recidivism.

Finally, extensive examination of the degree to which sex offense recidivism varies with offender age will be conducted.

Study data will be collected from five states including Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Florida, and South Carolina. It is expected that this research will inform policy development and implementation and ultimately lead to improved community protection.

Researchers include Michael Miner, PhD, Christine Mathiowetz, and Scott Vries.

All Gender Health Online

This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health and consists of two parts. The first part investigates the characteristics and sexual behavior of male partners of transgender women and men.

The second part will incorporate findings from part one in the development and rigorous evaluation of an online intervention to prevent the spread of HIV and promote the sexual health of transgender people as well as the population at large.

Walter Bockting, PhD, is the principal investigator, the project researchers include Bean Robinson, PhD, Jamie Feldman, MD, PhD, Michael Miner, PhD, Eli Coleman, PhD, Alex Iantaffi, PhD, Cesar Gonzalez, PhD, Hale Thompson, MA, Rebecca Swinburne Romine, MA, Laura Gurak, PhD (Writing Studies), Joe Konstan, PhD (Computer Science), Keith Horvath, PhD (Epidemiology), and David Valentine, PhD (Anthropology).

In September 2009, this study received a grant supplement to develop a virtual coach to personalize prevention messages for participants during the online intervention.

This supplemental funding will also enhance the research team by enabling the addition of Aaron Doering, PhD, and Charles Miller, PhD (Curriculum & Instruction).

Compulsive Sexual Behavior Research

Eli Coleman, PhD, is the principal investigator for three studies designed to examine the validity and reliability for the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI). These include an online survey of individuals, an in-person survey of individuals, and the retrieval of CSBI data along with other information from patient charts of those who have participated in CSB treatment at PHS.

Additional research projects focus on better defining, diagnosing, and treating compulsive sexual behavior.

Compulsive Sexual Behavior Surveys

The goal of this research is to provide comparison groups for the groups on which we have comparable data. Previous groups have included men seen at our clinic for concerns related to compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) and Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM) involved in an online study of HIV risk. The research can help determine if online and offline data collection techniques are equivalent, and get a sense of what degree of CSB is seen in the Minnesota community at large, with a special focus on MSM.

One critique of previous research with MSM is that high scores were indicative of high degrees of internalized homophobia. The inclusion of a sample recruited from the community should answer that critique.

Additional researchers on this project include Michael Miner, PhD, Jon Grant, MD, JD, Nancy Raymond, MD, Rebecca Swinburne Romine, MA, Caleb Black, and Joshua Klein.

Compulsive Sexual Behavior Chart Review

The goal of this project is to collect information on Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI) scores among men treated for compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) at the Center for Sexual Health clinic. Researchers are reviewing client charts to establish clinical norms for comparison with the community samples we are collecting.

Additional researchers on this project include Michael Miner, PhD, Jon Grant, MD, JD, Nancy Raymond, MD, Rebecca Swinburne Romine, MA, Christine Mathiowetz, Caleb Black, and Joshua Klein.

Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV

Eli Coleman, PhD, is the principal investigator for a project to validate a structured clinical interview for the diagnosis of compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). This project involves administering the interview to individuals both with and without CSB.

Also working on this project are Nancy Raymond, MD, Michael Miner, PhD, Jon Grant, MD, JD, Cory Jaques, and Rebecca Swinburne Romine, MA.

Double-Blind Naltrexone in Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Jon Grant, MD, JD, MPH, is the principal investigator on this clinical trial. The goal of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of naltrexone in the treatment of compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). Twenty subjects with CSB will receive eight weeks of naltrexone or placebo.

The hypothesis to be tested is that naltrexone will be effective for patients with CSB in reducing the urges to act out sexually. The proposed study will provide needed data on the treatment of a disabling disorder that currently lacks a clearly effective treatment.

GLBT Twin Cities Cancer Screening Survey

In an effort to identify barriers to health screening in the GLBT community, Eli Coleman, PhD, advised medical students in a research study that looked at the rate of cancer screening, specifically at the rates of cervical, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer screening among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender adults living in Minnesota. In 2008 students collected 250 surveys at the Twin Cities Pride celebration bringing the total number of surveys collected to 500.

The team of Cory Jaques, Paul Bechard, Rachael Blackman, Rebecca Swinburne Romine, MA, and Eli Coleman, PhD, completed their data analysis and wrote a manuscript regarding breast cancer screening among a population of women who have sex with women.

The next step will be to analyze the data for colon cancer screenings.

Opening Pandora’s Box: Somali Women, Sexuality, and HIV/STD Prevention

A new research project at PHS has been awarded a 2009 Planning Grant in the amount of $15,000 from the Program in Health Disparities Research also at the University of Minnesota. The study, titled “Opening Pandora’s Box: Somali Women, Sexuality, and HIV/STD Prevention,” will be the first to examine HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Somali women of all sexual orientations with the ultimate goal of meeting the critical need to reduce HIV and STD transmission among African-born Americans in Minnesota (and the U.S.) as African-born Americans have the highest HIV/AIDS rates of any ethnic group.

Interviews will be conducted in either English or Somali by the project’s bilingual Somali-raised community partners who will recruit participants from Somali gathering places, mosques, and gay/lesbian clubs, and bars. These Somali community partners represent heterosexual and gay/ lesbian/bisexual identities and have wide contacts including ones within the straight and hidden gay Somali communities.

The information gathered from this study will be used to secure additional funding to further study the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to HIV/STD transmission and prevention within the Somali community. Ultimately the group will translate this knowledge to develop the first HIV counseling and testing intervention for Somali women.

The study researchers include Bean Robinson, PhD, Fatima Jama, program manager at Midwest Community Development Inc., and Amira Ahmed, founder and executive director at Midwest Community Development Inc.

30-Year Sexual Offender Recidivism Study

Rebecca Swinburne Romine, MA is the principal investigator for this retrospective study of participants in Sexual Offender treatment at the Program in Human Sexuality. For over thirty years, PHS has provided treatment to over 700 individuals. The size of this sample allows for descriptive analysis not generally possible for community-based treatment programs.

This study will examine the characteristics of the individuals seen at this program, and explore survival rates with respect to time in treatment and offense characteristics. Current analysis is focused on predicting re-offense for non-contact offenders.

Michael Miner, PhD, and S. Margretta Dwyer, MA, are also working on this project.

Roots of Sexual Abuse

Mike Miner, PhD, is the lead investigator of this CDC-funded study. The study will apply attachment theory to identify the unique and shared risk factors for adolescents perpetrating child sexual abuse, sexual assault, and other non-sexual internalizing problems. It is a multi-method, cross-sectional study of 300 adolescent males who have sexually abused children, sexually assaulted peers or adults, and committed non-contact sexual, or have mental health issues but no history of illegal sexual behavior.

Participants are recruited from agencies in both urban and rural Minnesota. Data is collected through available records, interviews, and a computer-administered questionnaire.

Additional researchers on the grant include Dianne Berg, PhD, Bean Robinson, PhD, Morgan Paldron, MA, Angie Lewis-Dmello, and Rebecca Swinburne Romine, MA