Current concepts in the pharmacotherapy of paraphilias
Abstract
Concerns about paraphilia and its treatment have grown in the past few years. Although the aetiology of paraphilia disorder is still not completely understood, pharmacological treatments have been proposed for this disorder. Paraphilias are a major burden for patients and society; nevertheless, only a few individuals with paraphilias voluntarily seek treatment. Antidepressants have been used in the treatment of certain types of mild (e.g. exhibitionism) and juvenile paraphilias. Antilibidinal hormonal treatments, such as steroidal antiandrogens and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, have also been studied and they seem to be effective in paraphilic disorders, although caution should be taken in the prescription of these treatments in order to avoid or minimize adverse effects and the risk of victimization. The combination of psychotherapy and pharmacological therapy is associated with better efficacy compared with either treatment as monotherapy. Paraphilia is a chronic disorder and a minimal duration of treatment of 3-5 years is highly recommended for severe paraphilia with a high risk of sexual violence. In conclusion, this review of the literature provides suggestive evidence that paraphilias are well characterized disorders marked by pathological dimensions. Although further research is necessary to confirm treatment efficacy and to improve our knowledge of long-term tolerance, available data on the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, steroidal…
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Two recent literature reviews focused on drug treatments for both paraphilic and non-paraphilic sexual disorders (Guay 2009) and for paraphilic disorders alone (Garcia 2011).
“More recently, two relevant literature reviews have appeared focusing on drug treatments for both paraphilic and non-paraphilic sexual disorders (Guay 2009) and for paraphilic disorders alone (Garcia 2011).”
From Pharmacological interventions for those who have sexually offended or are at risk of offending (2015) · cites this paper as Garcia 2011
Neither of these two reviews restricted itself to trials of any particular study design, and neither searched more than two databases.
“Neither restricted itself to trials of any particular study design; neither searched more than two databases;”
From Pharmacological interventions for those who have sexually offended or are at risk of offending (2015) · cites this paper as Garcia 2011
Both of these reviews indicated that treatment looked promising but that the state of the intervention literature was poor.
“both indicated that treatment looked promising but that the state of the intervention literature was poor.”
From Pharmacological interventions for those who have sexually offended or are at risk of offending (2015) · cites this paper as Garcia 2011
Cites
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Pharmacological interventions for those who have sexually offended or are at risk of offending
Khan, O., Ferriter, M., Huband, N., Powney, M. J., Dennis, J. A., & Duggan, C. (2015) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd007989.pub2 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Garcia, F. D., & Thibaut, F.
- Affiliations
- Inserm (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Thibaut, Florence
- Venue
- Drugs
- Published
- 2011-04
- Volume
- 71
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 771-790
- ISSN
- 0012-6667 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1974359739
- Cited by
- 85
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 1.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Drugs (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- paraphilias, pharmacotherapy, exhibitionism, antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, androgen receptor antagonists, GnRH analogues, hormone therapy, treatment duration, adverse effects
- MeSH terms
- Androgen Antagonists, Antidepressive Agents, Combined Modality Therapy, Humans, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone, Male, Paraphilic Disorders, Psychotherapy, Treatment Outcome
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