The Antiandrogen and Hormonal Treatment of Sex Offenders

The treatment of sexual offenders using hormonal agents and antiandrogens is an increasingly important approach to a difficult clinical problem. As the public becomes more focused on the problem of sexual offenders and particularly child molesters, the demand for longer terms of incarceration as a solution to the problem has escalated, whereas the rehabilitation and treatment component has been deemphasized. It is in this climate that the need for effective treatment approaches supported by outcome studies is essential. At least part of the problem is that the term sexual offender can mean anything from a violent sadistic predatory rapist to an inhibited exhibitionist.