Hormone Therapy Flashcards
what are anti-androgens used for?
paedophilia and paraphilia
what treatments have previously been used?
surgical castration and neurosurgery
how do anti-androgens work?
counteract the effect of androgens by either blocking the production of androgens or ability to make use of them
this decreases deviant and non deviant sexual urges by reducing testosterone
how are anti-androgens administered?
via injections
daily, weekly or monthly
however, this means that if the treatment is stopped the behaviour may return
MPA - medroxyprogesterone acetate
Female hormone breaks down production of testosterone in the pituitary gland
Intramuscular injection of 300-400mg every 7-10 days
Side affects of decreased sperm production and weight gain
CPA - cyproterone acetate
Only available in Canada
Reduces sex drive
Side affects of liver dysfunction
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘different treatment’.
P - Anger management
E - They involve cognitive behavioural techniques that challenge through process and role play to change behaviour
E - This treatment may be more effective as offenders learn life skills to help them long term to prevent reoffending, and skills are still retained when the treatment stops, whereas with hormone therapy the symptoms will return when the treatment stops
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate the ‘expense’.
P - Hormone therapy is available on the NHS
E - This means that it should be available and accessible to all
E - However Maletzky found that 41% of people who were recommended treatment didn’t receive it due to lack of availability in area
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate 2 ‘supporting studies’ points.
P - Maletzky (2006) supports
E - Found that anti-androgens compared to no treatment led to lower rates of sexual recidivism in response to a sexual stimuli that previously led to arousal
E - Therefore demonstrating that hormone treatment is effective in reducing deviant sexual urges and recidivism in sexual offenders
P - Federoff (1992) supports
E - Found that 15% of those using MPA re-offended compared to 68% of those who weren’t
E - Therefore showing that hormone treatment is better than no treatment as recidivism was significantly lower in those receiving hormone treatment
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate the ‘side effects’.
P - side effects have negative impacts on a persons life
E - weight gain, breast enlargement and decreased sperm production for MPA
E - Side effects can make it less likely for people to undergo this treatment, and fertility issues may cause people to have to stop their course of treatment
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate an ‘ethics’ point.
P - Hormone treatment can be a form of social control
E - Rather than attempting to change the offender’s behaviour or solve the route cause, it simply deals with the symptoms
E - Therefore this may not be in the best interest of the offender as the treatment isn’t aiming to benefit them, but only society,
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate whether it’s ‘reason or mask’.
P - Hormone treatment masks symptoms
E - It doesn’t tackle the route cause of the offence and instead is just a quick solution to mask the symptoms
E - Therefore there is a risk of recidivism once the treatment is done as the offenders hormone levels would return to what they once were
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘time’ point.
P - Fairly quick response time
E - MPA breaks down testosterone as soon as it is administered
E - Thus it is quicker than behavioural treatment and so may be less effective long term, compared to anger management which teaches offenders life skills. However, there is an instant reduction of risk to society of those who have been released from prison and are receiving hormone therapy
