Pharmacological treatment of sexually aggressive forensic psychiatric patients

• Published in: Psychology, crime & law Vol. 11; no. 4; pp. 457 - 465
• Main Authors: Polak, M. A., Nijman, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.12.2005
• Subjects: aggression; anti-androgen medication; forensic psychiatric treatment; Forensic science; Medical treatment; Patients; Pharmacology; Psychiatry; Psychology; Sexual assault; Sexual offending
• ISSN: 1068-316X; 1477-2744
• DOI: 10.1080/10683160500256669

This paper deals with pharmacotherapy for sexual offenders. Findings published in the international literature on the effectiveness of libido-suppressing medication and some of our first (limited) experiences with pharmacological treatment of sexual offenders in a Dutch forensic psychiatric hospital are described. In line with the literature, our preliminary clinical experiences with anti-androgen medication suggest that it brought about a reduction in the number of sexual incidents in the hospital as well as a decline in other types of disruptive inpatient behaviour (e.g. aggression), but the number of patients treated (n=4) was too few to allow adequate statistical testing. On the basis of the literature, however, it seems fair to conclude that in cases posing a high risk of re-offending into hands-on sexual crimes, anti-androgen medication can be effective in combination with regular cognitive-behavioural treatment.