NCJ Number
65863
Date Published
1975
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A PSYCHIATRIST REMARKS ON THE MOST PREVALENT FORMS OF TREATMENT FOR SEXUAL OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE PSYCHIATRISTS' RESPONSIBILITY IN TREATING SEXUAL OFFENDERS IS ESPECIALLY GREAT IN CASES OF RECIDIVISM OR POTENTIAL DANGEROUSNESS. THE ESSENTIAL PRECONDITION FOR TREATMENT IS THAT THE PATIENT EXPERIENCES HIS ABERRATION AS PAINFUL AND SINCERELY DESIRES TREATMENT. TREATMENT METHODS USED IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS INCLUDE MEDICATION, CASTRATION, PSYCHOTHERAPY, STEROTACTICAL OPERATIONS, AND HORMONE THERAPY. THE ADMINISTERING OF MEDICATION THAT LOWERS THE OFFENDER'S LIBIDO IS THE MOST COMMON AND PROMISING TREATMENT METHOD BECAUSE OF ITS SUCC IN PREVENTING RECIDIVISM, THE OFFENDERS' WILLINGNESS TO UNDERGO SUCH TREATMENT, AND RELATIVE LACK OF SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS. CASTRATION OFFERS EXCELLENT TREATMENT CHANCES TO CONSENTING OFFENDERS; HOWEVER, IT IS RARELY UNDERTAKEN BECAUSE OF ITS CRIPPLING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL SIDE EFFECTS AND ITS IRREVERSIBILITY. PSYCHOTHERAPY HAS SO FAR NOT PROVEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING RECIDIVISM--WHICH MAY BE DUE TO THE NEGATIVE INFLUENCE OF THE CORRECTIONAL ENVIRONMENT. THE MORE MODEST APPROACH OF BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, WHICH ATTEMPTS TO LESSEN THE SYMPTOMS RATHER THAN CURE THE ENTIRE DISEASE, IS CONSIDERED AS QUICKER AND MORE COST-EFFECTIVE. STEREOTACTICAL OPERATIONS WHICH DESTROY THE HORMONAL SEX CENTER IN THE BRAIN AND WHICH HAD SHOWN GREAT SUCCESS WITH MONKEYS, HAVE ONLY BEEN USED ON RARE OCCASIONS AND WITHOUT NOTABLE SUCCESS ON OFFENDERS. ESTROGEN TREATMENT, WHICH AT ONE TIME WAS CONSIDERED A HIGHLY RESPECTABLE METHOD, HAS BEEN ALMOST COMPLETELY ABANDONED. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS A BIBLIOGRAPHY --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)