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Cameron F. Zeidler Psy.D. is a 2016 graduate of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, Santa Barbara

Dissertation Committee:

Brett Kia-Keating, Ed.D., Chairperson

Christopher Howard, Psy.D., Second Faculty

Joseph Lockhart, Ph.D., ABPP, External Expert

Keywords

Psychoneuroimmunology, Recidivism, Risk Assessment, Sexual Paraphilia, Court-Mandated Treatment, Sexual Offender, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Psychoeducation, Quantitative Research, Sex Offender Treatment, Parole, Probation, California Penal Code

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2016

Abstract

Despite astronomical costs, state-funded sex offender treatment has a sole purpose of protecting communities at large. Designed to treat sexual psychopaths, costly state risk management programs are required to use traditional, outdated treatment models, which lack empirical support, lack published research, and lack curricula written at the seventh grade reading level. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) eagerly proves to be a new modality for Psychoeducation (PE) enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing offender recidivism in court-mandated treatment. The distinction in the present study is the difference between PE alone (control group) and PE with PNI (experimental group). Specifically, this study investigated the extent to which implementing the PNI treatment intervention was associated with decreased recidivism in court-mandated treatment. This study employed a quantitative research design with repeated measures with multiple linear regression analyses. The two-independent/question predictor variables: treatment interventions of PNI (18-months and 24-months of treatment) were compared on one dependent variable: (reduction in the participant’s chance of recidivating following treatment). An association of decreased recidivism was established with results that demonstrated a statistically significant effect or difference between the control and treatment groups. Significant effects were evaluated for using regression beta coefficients with t-value and significance of t-values associations, respectively. Furthermore, results suggested that implementing the PNI treatment intervention in the experimental group produced a statistically significant effect between groups. There was a significant bivariate correlation between implementation of treatment intervention and participants who were experiencing: (a) financial problems (β = -4.06, p = .13), (b) family/marital v problems (β = 1.71, p = .009), (c) negative social support influence (β = .77, p = .07) and (d) participants whose history included the presence of alcohol or drugs (β = .69, p =.042). This variable was significant in Table 7 regression model and therefore the hypothesis was supported. Sexually deviant offenders mandated to receive treatment for sex offences were more likely to benefit from PNI treatment than their non-PNI counterparts in reducing their risk of recidivism. Implications for further research, as well as the need to formulate specialized treatment for psychopathic sex offenders are discussed. The electronic version of the dissertation is accessible at the Ohiolink ETD center http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd.

Comments

ORCID Scholar Number: 0000-0002-6053-5969

Bio:

Cameron F. Zeidler received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with emphases in Family Systems and Family Forensic Psychology from Antioch University Santa Barbara in 2016.

Throughout his academic pursuits, Cameron has been passionate about the field of Clinical and Forensic Psychology. Through his involvement with therapeutic jurisprudence, Cameron has been passionate about championing social justice.

Cameron endeavors to advance the field of Forensic Psychology by furthering research on the intersection of psychology and law within civil and criminal forensic populations including sexually violent predators (SVP). This dissertation is indicative of his research pursuits in fulfillment of this goal.

Cameron is proud to share his formal appointment: 2016-2017 Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology at the prestigious Mendota Mental Health Institute (MMHI) and Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center (SRSTC) in Wisconsin. Formerly the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane, founded 1860, this fellowship site is accredited by the American Psychological Association and is approved by the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABPP- Forensics) for becoming an American board-certified forensic psychologist. As postdoctoral fellow, Cameron will further his research publications at this renowned educational and training institution, also widely-termed the “epicenter of SVP Research” in the United States. Training includes forensic evaluation and treatment of patient populations under civil and criminal commitments: Sexually Violent Persons (SVP), Competency to Stand Trial (CST), and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI).

Cameron completed his 2015-2016 Clinical Psychology Predoctoral Internship at the APA-accredited training program of California Department of State Hospitals- Coalinga (DSH-C), a maximum-security state mental hospital specializing in the treatment of Sexually Violent Predators (WIC §6600), Mentally Disordered Offenders (PC §2972), and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Mentally Ill Prisoners (PC §2684).

He is a fifth-year CASOMB California State Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider, a California State Certified Domestic Violence Counselor, and is Nationally Certified in Mental Health First Aid. He has served as a sex offender treatment provider and assessor for CDCR, Federal Probation, and Counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara Probation Departments: Adult and Juvenile Services Divisions. He has completed advanced training courses to administer violence risk assessments: STABLE/ACUTE-2007, PCL-R, HCR-20 v3, START and STATIC as well as in juvenile competency.

Prior to DSH-C, he served as County of Santa Barbara ADMHS' Community Program Director and ADMHS Forensic Liaison facilitating inpatient and outpatient community forensic services on IST (Incompetence to Stand Trial) misdemeanants under the oversight of the county's forensic psychiatrist. His role as south-county principal for all PC §1368/1370/1370.01 commitments required him to interface daily with the criminal courts and Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF). He served as courtroom floater for the alpha courts and was additionally appointed as PC §1368 forensic evaluator of multiple IST forensic evaluations. Executing the county's reports: §1370.01(b), §1370.01(a)(2)(B)(v), and §1370.01 progress reviews, he managed inpatient and outpatient competency training to restore defendant trial competence. He was also credited for his assistance in constructing and building the IST managerial policies and procedures for County of Santa Barbara County.

Additionally, Cameron was staffed at Santa Barbara County Mental Health (Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Services- A.D.M.H.S.) and trained in the assessment and treatment of the severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) population for 4 years. He worked as a practicum student and subsequently employee of County of Santa Barbara ADMHS' crisis clinic: C.A.R.E.S. (Crisis And Recovery Emergency Services). Working within a multidisciplinary team, his training transitioned him through the county jail, Psychiatric Health Facility, and on the county’s emergency response team, Mobile Crisis, where he trained in suicide and violence risk assessment writing CA WIC 5150 civil commitment holds. His work was with clinical populations from multicultural and multicontextual backgrounds: SPMI, Hospital ER & ICU admits, juveniles, AB-109s, 290 registrants, jail assessments, 4011.6s, 5150s, 1368s and 1370s, felony and misdemeanor cases. He was trained in clinical assessments for managed healthcare Medi-Cal/Medicare, and diagnostic clarifications for Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara.

In May 2016, he co-authored and presented an original workshop for the 19th Annual California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO) forensic conference. The workshop presentation was titled: A Heuristic Framework for the Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Offenders: An Institutionalized Approach to Reducing Risk of Sexual Recidivism in Outpatient Offender Treatment and Supervision.

The treatment and assessment of forensic populations requires knowledge and expertise, but also demands a certain temperament and personality. As a clinical and forensic psychologist, Cameron makes a lifelong commitment working with the highest risk and highest needs patient populations in both inpatient and outpatient criminal and civil commitment settings.

Presentations & Lectures:

Zeidler, C. F. (2016, June) Psychoneuroimmunology: Enhancing Treatment Efficacy and Reducing Sexual Offender Recidivism in Court-Mandated Treatment. Community Presentation at Antioch University, Santa Barbara, CA.

Zeidler, C. F. (2016, June) Case Presentation. Presented at the Central California Psychology Internship Consortium (CCPIC). Fresno, CA.

Zeidler, C. F. (2016, May). A Heuristic Framework for the Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Offenders: An Institutionalized Approach to Reducing Risk of Sexual Recidivism in Outpatient Offender Treatment and Supervision. (Co-author credit) Workshop presented at the 19th Annual California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO). San Diego, CA.

Zeidler, C. F. (2016, May). Clinical Case Conference: Case Presentation. Presented at the Department of State Hospitals- Coalinga. Coalinga, CA.

Zeidler. C. F. (October 2016) Evidence for Changes in Brain Structure and Chemistry Resulting From Traumatic and Nurturant Life Experiences Including Psychotherapy. Lecture presented at Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA.

Zeidler. C. F. (2015, May) Evidence for Mass Murder Contagion. Lecture presented at Antioch University, Santa Barbara, CA.

Zeidler. C. F. (2015, January) The Neurobiological and Psychosocial Influences on the Creation of M.D. in Males: Is one Factor More Determinant Than the other? Lecture presented at Antioch University, Santa Barbara, CA.

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