Hormones and sexual behaviour

Abstract

Psychiatrists react to the complexity of human nature in two principal ways; they either take it as justification for their ascientific humanism, or, with unwavering optimism, they accept the challenge and seek scientific explanations. ‘Hormones and behaviour’ has been a favourite hunting ground for such hopefuls, and it is perhaps the sexual part of our natures that we are most ready to attribute to chemistry.

The Use of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate To Assist in the Treatment of Sexual Offenders

“…In Europe, the drug Cyproterone Acetate (CPA) has been employed for over 20 years to reduce sexual drive in male offenders (e.g., Laschet & Laschet, 1975). CPA is a long-acting synthetic steroid that reduces circulating testosterone levels and male sexual arousal (Bancroft, 1977;Freund, 1980). CPA has not been approved for use in the U.S.A., however, because of occasional liver toxicity.…”

“…Nonetheless, approximately 150 cases of sexual offenders treated with MPA have been reported in the English language literature to date, and possibly 10 times that number have actually been treated, with durations of treatment lasting over 7 years in selected cases (Bancroft, 1977;Money, 1970). The literature is, however, silent about the criteria for the choice of patients most likely to benefit from MPA.…”

Research directions in the evaluation and treatment of sex offenders: An analysis

“…This research consistently indicates that antiandrogens are successful in suppressing libido and overt sexual behavior. The efficacy of both MPA and CPA has been supported by a number of studies (Bancroft 1977;Bancroft, Tennant, & Loucas, 1974;Berlin and Meinecke, 1982;Blumer & Migeon, 1975;Cooper, 1978;Cooper etal. , 1972;Davies, 1970;Gagne, 1981;Laschet, 1973;Laschet& Laschet, 1975;Money, Wiedeking, & Wacker, 1976;Rivarola, Camacho, & Migeon, 1968).…”

Organic Treatments for the Male Sexual Offender

“…Oestrogens have also been used in the past to treat paraphilias and to reduce sexual drive in males (Foote, 1944;Golla & Hodge 1949;Whittaker, 1959;Scott, 1964;Symmers, 1968). Sexual drive reduction by the phenothiazines has also been described and has been used in the specific treatment of sexual offenders (Bancroft, 1977;Litkey & Feniczy, 1967;Bartholomew, 1964;Bartholomew, 1968;Sterkmans & Geerts, 1966;Field, 1973;Beaumont et a!., 1974).…”