Sex Offenders, Pharmacological Interventions for

Traditionally, sex offenders have been treated with cognitive behavioral methods and other psychotherapeutic techniques. However, in some countries, pharmacotherapy is also used to treat sex offenders. It is not clear if treatment should be voluntary or mandatory or whether there should be considered treatment at all; some have argued that there should only be punishment. There is also the concern over whether treatment should be available to all persons with similar concerns or simply convicted sex offenders.

Pharmacotherapy, in this sense, is the use of prescription medication that lowers testosterone levels. Lower levels decrease sexual urges. Often referred to as chemical castration, effects of the medication can be reversed by eliminating their use, unlike surgical castration, which is irreversible. The use of pharmaceuticals to treat sex ...