HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weinberger, L. E. Articles by Osran, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Weinberger, L. E. Articles by Osran, H.

The Impact of Surgical Castration on Sexual Recidivism Risk Among Sexually Violent Predatory Offenders

Dr. Weinberger is Chief Psychologist, USC Institute of Psychiatry, Law, and Behavioral Science, and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Sreenivason is Director of Forensic Outreach Services, Greater Los Angeles VA Medical Center and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Garrick is Chief of General Hospital Psychiatry, Greater Los Angeles VA Medical Center, and Professor of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Osran is Chief of Forensic Psychiatry, Atascadero State Hospital, Atascadero, CA. Address correspondence to: Linda E. Weinberger, PhD, USC Institute of Psychiatry and Law, P.O. Box 86125, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0125

The relationship of surgical castration to sexual recidivism in a sexually violent predator/sexually dangerous person (SVP/SDP) population is reviewed. A review of the literature on castrated sex offenders reveals a very low incidence of sexual recidivism. The low sexual recidivism rates reported are critiqued in light of the methodologic limitations of the studies. Better designed testicular/prostate cancer studies have demonstrated that, while sexual desire is reduced by orchiectomy, the capacity to develop an erection in response to sexually stimulating material is not eliminated. The relevance of this literature to SVP/SDP commitment decisions and ethics is discussed. Two vignettes of castrated, high-risk sex offenders illustrate how to address risk reduction. Two tables are presented: the first outlines individual case data from a difficult-to-obtain report, and the second summarizes the most frequently cited castration studies on sexual recidivism. Orchiectomy may have a role in risk assessments; however, other variables should be considered, particularly as the effects can be reversed by replacement testosterone.