Pedophilia

DSM-IV:
• Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies,
sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or
children (generally age 13 or younger).
• The person has acted on these sexual urges, the sexual urges or fantasies cause
marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.
• The person is at least 16yoa and at least 5 years older than the child or children.
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• Majority of pedophiles are male.

• Women are affected as well. Studies in the UK and USA suggest that a range of 5% to
20% of child sexual abuse offenses are perpetrated by women.
• 50-70% of pedophiles are diagnosed as having another paraphila (or sexual arousal to
an object, person, or act that is not a normal stimulation)

Types of Pedophiles:
• Exclusive- only attracted to children
• Nonexclusive- attracted to children and adults
• Heterosexual- in male pedophile, being attracted to female children
• Homosexual- in male pedophile, being attracted to male children
• Bisexual- having preference or attraction to both male and female children
• Incest- children abused by family members (50% of cases against children 6yoa and
younger – 42% of acts against children 6-11yoa were committed by a family member)

Prevalence:
• It is difficult to estimate the prevalence of pedophilia because few seek treatment.
• The number of convictions in the legal system cannot properly measure the amount of
child victims.
• One study showed that most participating sex offenders; convicted of sexual abuse on
a child; admitted to more victims and acts.
• Another study reported that, “453 pedophiles recruited through outpatient treatment
programs admitted to an average of 236 sexual acts and 148 victims per offender”
(Horner, G., 2006).

Keeping Community Safety:

• Sexual Offenders are subject to not only prison time if convicted but upon release may
be required to follow guidelines set by court. These include:
• Registering with law enforcement
• Notifying the community of their presence
• Civil Commitment (judge decides whether to mandate inpatient or outpatient
treatment). Under civil commitment, sex offenders receive treatment until they are
deemed fit but may be held indefinitely in institutions.
• Castration
 • Without treatment the recidivism (relapse) rate is 50% in homosexuals and 35- 40%
percent in heterosexuals.

Treatment For Pedophiles:

• Cognitive and behavioral therapy most common.
• Medications:
• Medroxyprogesterone acetate, or MPA, a female hormone
• Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, which include such drugs as
triptorelin (Trelstar), leuprolide acetate, and goserelin acetate (reduce sexual urges)
• Anti-androgens ( block the uptake and metabolism of testosterone as well as reducing
blood levels of this hormone, By decreasing the testosterone levels in male pedophiles,
you in turn decrease their sexual appetite)

Treatment and Resources For Victims:

• Help/Assistance hotlines for victims
• Therapy groups
• Coping Methods
• Helping the family of the pedophile - counseling should be set up to address
ambivalence, abandonment, shame, guilt, and anger.
• Social Worker