NCJ Number
58010
Journal
NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL Volume: 85 Issue: 587 Dated: (MAY 11, 1977) Pages: 366-369
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
CYPROTERONE ACETATE WAS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF TEN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM SEXUAL DEVIANCY. SIX COMPLETED THE COURSE OF TREATMENT. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ENDROCRINOLOGICAL MEASURES WERE RECORDED.
Abstract
CYPROTERONE ACETATE IS A STEROID HORMONE THAT WAS FIRST SYNTHESIZED BY WEICHERT IN GERMANY IN 1961. IT ACTS UPON THE PITUITARY GLAND TO INHIBIT THE RELEASE OF GONADOTHROPIN, WHICH LOWERS PLASMA TESTOSTERONE LEVELS. THE PATIENT THUS UNDERGOES A FORM OF REVERSIBLE CASTRATION AND CONSEQUENTLY THE DRUG HAS BEEN USED AS A REDUCER OF SEX DRIVE IN MEN WITH SEVERE PSYCHOSEXUAL DISTURBANCES. THE AIMS OF THIS TRIAL USE OF THE DRUG WERE TO BUILD UP A PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE CLINICAL USE OF CYPROTERONE ACETATE AND TO IDENTIFY WHICH GROUP OF PATIENTS COULD BE MOST EFFECTIVELY TREATED. THE CRITERIA USED TO SELECT SUBJECTS WERE: (1) OTHER FORMS OF TREATMENT HAD BEEN TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY; (2) THE SUBJECT'S BEHAVIOR WAS LIKELY TO LEAD TO LEGAL DETENTION; (3) THE PATIENT AND HIS WIFE (IF MARRIED) GAVE FULL AND INFORMED CONSENT. THOSE CHOSEN WERE SEXUAL OFFENDERS WHOSE BEHAVIOR HAD NOT BEEN CONTROLLED BY ANY OTHER METHOD. AFTER INITIAL INTERVIEWS IN WHICH COMPLETE SEXUAL HISTORIES WERE OBTAINED, THE PATIENTS BEGAN TREATMENT WHICH CONTINUED AT MONTHLY INTERVALS FOR ONE YEAR. SUMMARIES OF THE TWELVE SUBJECTS ARE PRESENTED. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THOSE PATIENTS THAT DISCONTINUED TREATMENT SHOWED A RETURN TO THEIR PREVIOUS BEHAVIOR ONCE THEY STOPPED TAKING THE DRUG. THOSE WHO CONTINUED THE TREATMENT FOUND THAT THEIR SEX DRIVE HAD BEEN CONSIDERABLY DIMINISHED AND ABNORMAL SEXUAL BEHAVIOR DISCONTINUED. THERE IS THUS LITTLE DOUBT THAT PATIENTS WHO CAN BE TRUSTED TO CONTINUE MEDICATION, HAVE REASONABLE PREVIOUS PERSONALITIES, AND UNDERSTAND THE GOALS OF TREATMENT, CAN BE TREATED BY THIS METHOD. REFEREMCES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)