NCJ Number
105126
Journal
Behavioral Sciences and the Law Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (Autumn 1985) Pages: 355-375
Date Published
1985
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This discussion of three organic treatments for the sexual offender -- antiandrogen or other hormonal agents, surgical castration, and stereotaxic neurosurgery -- focuses on background material, related studies, and the appropriate use of the treatments for various types of male sexual offenders.
Abstract
The antiandrogen and hormonal treatment of sexual offenders is a pharmacological method of reducing sexual drive. Studies indicate this treatment is effective in reducing sex drive while the drugs are in the system. Pretreatment behavior generally returns when drug treatment ceases. Castration is the removal of the testes and results in a complete shutdown of androgen production from the testes, which produces 95 percent of the body's testosterone. Studies of serious sexual offenders who have been castrated shows a significant reduction in recidivism among such offenders. Psychosurgery to treat sexual deviation ranges from such operations as a leucotomy to various stereotaxic techniques. Since reversible medical interventions are available, psychosurgical techniques will not play a significant role in the treatment of sexual offenders in North America. The future research in the organic treatments of the sexual offender are likely to center on the development of new antiandrogens such as the agonistic analogues of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone. Future research is also needed to determine the differential effects on sexual arousal of a variety of antiandrogens. 104 references.