Some researchers advocate curing pedophilia through reconditioning methods that alter sexual attraction or drugs that reduce sex drive (AACAP, 1999; Abel & Harlow, 2001; Crawford, 1981; Hall, 1996; Langevin, 1983; Maletzky, 1991; Cohen & Galynker, 2009; Briken, Fedoroff, & Bradford, 2014). These methods resemble conversion therapy for homosexuality, however, and are just as ineffective and potentially harmful (AMA, 1987; Freund, 1981; Hall, 1996; Langevin, 1983; McConaghy, 1999; Grundmann, Krupp, Scherner, Amelung, & Beier, 2016; Seto, 2009). While there is some evidence that these methods have been able to alter arousal patterns, they have shown to be ineffective in altering underlying sexual desires (Laws & Marshall, 2003; Marshall & Laws, 2003; Seto, 2009). The legitimacy of these studies is further cast into doubt by lack of long-term follow-ups, inclusion of control groups for comparison, valid constructs for what constitutes success (Cantor, 2014), or adequate consideration of harmful effects on the mental health of the client.
References
Abel, G. & Harlow, N. (2001) The Stop Child Molestation Book. Xlibris.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). (1999). Practice parameters for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents who are sexually abusive of others. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38(12 Suppl), 55S-76S.
American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Scientific Affairs. (1987). Aversion therapy. Journal of the American Medical Association, 258(18), 2562-2565.
Briken, P., Fedoroff, J.P., & Bradford, J.W. (2014). Why Can’t Pedophilic Disorder Remit? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43, 1237-1239.
Cantor, J. M. (2014). “Gold-Star Pedophiles in General Sex Therapy Practice.” In Y.A. Binik & K.S.K. Hall (Eds.), Principles and Practice of Sex Therapy, Fifth Edition (219-234). New York, NY: Guilford Publishers.
Cohen, L.J. & and Galynker, I. (2009). Psychopathology and personality traits of pedophiles: issues for diagnosis and treatment. Psychiatric Times, 26(6), 25.
Crawford, D. (1981). Treatment approaches with pedophiles. In Cook, M. & Howells, K. (Eds.), Adult Sexual Interest in Children (pp. 181-217). London: Academic Press.
Freund, K. (1981). Assessment of pedophilia. In Cook, M. & Howells, K. (Eds.), Adult Sexual Interest in Children (pp. 139-179), London: Academic Press.
Grundmann, D., Krupp, J., Scherner, G., Amelung, T., & Beier, K.M. (2016). Stability of Self-reported Arousal to Sexual Fantasies involving Children in a Clinical Sample of Pedophiles and Hebephiles. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45(5), 1153-1162. doi:10.1007/s10508-016-0729-z.
Hall, G. C. N. (1996). Theory-based Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Sexual Aggression. New York: Oxford University Press.
Langevin, R. (1983). Sexual Strands: Understanding and Treating Sexual Anomalies in Men. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Laws, D. R., & Marshall, W. L. (2003). A brief history of behavioral and cognitive behavioral approaches to sexual offender treatment: Part 1. Early developments. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 15, 75–92.
Maletzky, B. (1991). Treating the Sexual Offender. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Marshall, W. L., & Laws, D. R. (2003). A brief history of behavioral and cognitive behavioral approaches to sexual offender treatment: Part 2. The modern era. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 15, 93–120.
McConaghy, N. (1999). Unresolved issues in scientific sexology. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 28, 285-318.
Seto, M.C. (2009). Pedophilia. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 5(1), 391-407. http://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.032408.153618.
