Forty-eight male patients with long-standing histories of deviant sexual
behavior received medroxyprogesterone acetate and milieu therapy for up to
12 months. Forty subjects responded positively, all within 3 weeks, with
diminished frequency of sexual fantasies and arousal, decreased desire for
deviant sexual behavior, increased control over sexual urges, and
improvement in psychosocial functioning. Improvement in deviant sexual
behavior and psychosocial functioning was maintained after treatment ended,
and there was no evidence of permanent physiological changes. The author
suggests that medroxyprogesterone acetate associated with counseling may be
the treatment of choice for patients with long-term deviant sexual
behavior. He discusses the ethical issues involved.Abstract Teaser