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. 2015 Feb 18;2015(2):CD007989.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007989.pub2.

Pharmacological interventions for those who have sexually offended or are at risk of offending

Omer Khan  1 , Michael Ferriter, Nick Huband, Melanie J Powney, Jane A Dennis, Conor Duggan
Affiliations

Pharmacological interventions for those who have sexually offended or are at risk of offending

Omer Khan et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background: Sexual offending is a serious social problem, a public health issue, and a major challenge for social policy. Victim surveys indicate high incidence and prevalence levels and it is accepted that there is a high proportion of hidden sexual victimisation. Surveys report high levels of psychiatric morbidity in survivors of sexual offences.Biological treatments of sex offenders include antilibidinal medication, comprising hormonal drugs that have a testosterone-suppressing effect, and non-hormonal drugs that affect libido through other mechanisms. The three main classes of testosterone-suppressing drugs in current use are progestogens, antiandrogens, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues. Medications that affect libido through other means include antipsychotics and serotonergic antidepressants (SSRIs).

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of pharmacological interventions on target sexual behaviour for people who have been convicted or are at risk of sexual offending.

Search methods: We searched CENTRAL (2014, Issue 7), Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and 15 other databases in July 2014. We also searched two trials registers and requested details of unidentified, unpublished, or ongoing studies from investigators and other experts.

Selection criteria: Prospective controlled trials of antilibidinal medications taken by individuals for the purpose of preventing sexual offences, where the comparator group received a placebo, no treatment, or 'standard care', including psychological treatment.

Data collection and analysis: Pairs of authors, working independently, selected studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. We contacted study authors for additional information, including details of methods and outcome data.

Main results: We included seven studies with a total of 138 participants, with data available for 123. Sample sizes ranged from 9 to 37. Judgements for categories of risk of bias varied: concerns were greatest regarding allocation concealment, blinding of outcome assessors, and incomplete outcome data (dropout rates in the five community-based studies ranged from 3% to 54% and results were usually analysed on a per protocol basis).Participant characteristics in the seven studies were heterogeneous, but the vast majority had convictions for sexual offences, ranging from exhibitionism to rape and child molestation.Six studies examined the effectiveness of three testosterone-suppressing drugs: cyproterone acetate (CPA), ethinyl oestradiol (EO), and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA); a seventh evaluated two antipsychotics (benperidol and chlorpromazine). Five studies were placebo-controlled; in two, MPA was administered as an adjunctive treatment to a psychological therapy (assertiveness training or imaginal desensitisation). Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity of interventions, comparators, study designs, and other issues. The quality of the evidence overall was poor. In addition to methodological issues, much evidence was indirect.

Primary outcome: recividism. Two studies reported recidivism rates formally. One trial of intramuscular MPA plus imaginal desensitisation (ID) found no reports of recividism at two-year follow-up for the intervention group (n = 10 versus one relapse within the group treated by ID alone). A three-armed trial of oral MPA, alone or in combination with psychological treatment, reported a 20% rate of recidivism amongst those in the combined treatment arm (n = 15) and 50% of those in the psychological treatment only group (n = 12). Notably, all those in the 'oral MPA only' arm of this study (n = 5) dropped out immediately, despite treatment being court mandated.Two studies did not report recidivism rates as they both took place in one secure psychiatric facility from which no participant was discharged during the study, whilst another three studies did not appear directly to measure recividism but rather abnormal sexual activity alone.

Secondary outcomes: The included studies report a variety of secondary outcomes. Results suggest that the frequency of self reported deviant sexual fantasies may be reduced by testosterone-suppressing drugs, but not the deviancy itself (three studies). Where measured, hormonal levels, particularly levels of testosterone, tended to correlate with measures of sexual activity and with anxiety (two studies). One study measured anxiety formally; one study measured anger or aggression. Adverse events: Six studies provided information on adverse events. No study tested the effects of testosterone-suppressing drugs beyond six to eight months and the cross-over design of some studies may obscure matters (given the 'rebound effect' of some hormonal treatments). Considerable weight gain was reported in two trials of oral MPA and CPA. Side effects of intramuscular MPA led to discontinuation in some participants after three to five injections (the nature of these side effects was not described). Notable increases in depression and excess salivation were reported in one trial of oral MPA. The most severe side effects (extra-pyramidal movement disorders and drowsiness) were reported in a trial of antipsychotic medication for the 12 participants in the study. No deaths or suicide attempts were reported in any study. The latter is important given the association between antilibidinal hormonal medication and mood changes.

Authors' conclusions: We found only seven small trials (all published more than 20 years ago) that examined the effects of a limited number of drugs. Investigators reported issues around acceptance and adherence to treatment. We found no studies of the newer drugs currently in use, particularly SSRIs or GnRH analogues. Although there were some encouraging findings in this review, their limitations do not allow firm conclusions to be drawn regarding pharmacological intervention as an effective intervention for reducing sexual offending.The tolerability, even of the testosterone-suppressing drugs, was uncertain given that all studies were small (and therefore underpowered to assess adverse effects) and of limited duration, which is not consistent with current routine clinical practice. Further research is required before it is demonstrated that their administration reduces sexual recidivism and that tolerability is maintained.It is a concern that, despite treatment being mandated in many jurisdictions, evidence for the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions is so sparse and that no RCTs appear to have been published in two decades. New studies are therefore needed and should include trials with larger sample sizes, of longer duration, evaluating newer medications, and with results stratified according to category of sexual offenders. It is important that data are collected on the characteristics of those who refuse and those who drop out, as well as those who complete treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Omer Khan ‐ receives payment for providing independent expert psychiatric testimonies for mental health tribunals and other court cases. Omer receives a salary for a substantive post as a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, from Priory Secure Services. Michael Ferriter ‐ the Institute of Mental Health at the University of Nottingham (who were at the time 0.5 FTE employer) received a grant from the National Institute for Health Research for the completion of this review (amongst others). Nick Huband ‐ held the post of Clinical Research Fellow with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham and was employed in that role during the production of this review. Melanie J Powney ‐ at the time of the review, was affiliated with the Forensic Division of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. Jane A Dennis ‐ received payment from the Institute of Mental Health at the University of Nottingham, which had received a grant from the National Institute for Health Research for the completion of this review (amongst others). Jane A Dennis is the Managing Editor of the Social Welfare Group in the Campbell Collaboration. Conor Duggan ‐ whilst employed at the Institute of Mental Health at the University of Nottingham (until 2011) Conor Duggan's institute received money from the Department of Health, who commissioned this work. In October 2011, he began a part‐time appointment as Head of Research and Development for Partnerships in Care, an independent secure hospital provider. In addition, Conor Duggan has recently (January 2015) been invited to participate in a UK Ministry of Justice advisory group, titled "Expert Advisory Group for Evaluation of Sex Offender Treatment Programme", due to begin its work later in the year.

Figures

1
1
From Gelb 2007 (used with permission of the Sentencing Advisory Council, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
2
2
'Risk of bias' graph: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item presented as percentages across all included studies
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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