Effect of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Antagonist on Risk of Committing Child Sexual Abuse in Men With Pedophilic Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE: Evidence-based treatments from randomized clinical trials for pedophilic disorder are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist reduces dynamic risk factors for committing child sexual abuse. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This academically initiated, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 2 randomized clinical trial was conducted at the ANOVA center in Stockholm, Sweden, from March 1, 2016, to April 30, 2019. Individuals who contacted PrevenTell, the national telephone helpline for unwanted sexuality, were recruited. Eligible participants were men seeking help aged 18 to 66 years with a pedophilic disorder diagnosis and no contraindications to the intervention. The primary end point was assessed by intent-to-treat analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Randomization to receive either 2 subcutaneous injections of 120 mg of degarelix acetate or equal volume of placebo. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary end point was the mean change between baseline and 2 weeks in the composite risk score of 5 domains of child sexual abuse ranging from 0 to 15 points; each domain could be rated from 0 to 3 points. Secondary end points included efficacy at 2 and 10 weeks as measured by the composite score, each risk domain, quality of life, self-reported effects, and adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 52 male participants (mean [SD] age, 36 [12] years) were randomized to receive either degarelix (n = 25; with 1 withdrawal) or placebo (n = 26). At 2 weeks, the composite risk score decreased from 7.4 to 4.4 for participants in the degarelix group and from 7.8 to 6.6 for the placebo group, a mean between-group difference of –1.8 (95% CI, –3.2 to –0.5; P = .01). A decrease was seen in the composite score at 10 weeks (−2.2 [95% CI, −3.6 to −0.7]) as well as in the domains of pedophilic disorder (2 weeks: −0.7 [95% CI, −1.4 to 0.0]; 10 weeks: −1.1 [95% CI, −1.8 to −0.4]) and sexual preoccupation (2 weeks: −0.7 [95% CI, −1.2 to −0.3]; 10 weeks: −0.8 [95% CI, −1.3 to −0.3]) in the degarelix group compared with the placebo group. No difference was seen for the domains of self-rated risk (2 weeks: −0.4 [95% CI, −0.9 to 0.1]; 10 weeks: −0.5 [95% CI, −1 to 0.0]), low empathy (2 weeks: 0.2 [95% CI, −0.3 to 0.6]; 10 weeks: 0.2 [95% CI, −0.2 to 0.6]), and impaired self-regulation (2 weeks: −0.0 [95% CI, −0.7 to 0.6]; 10 weeks: 0.1 [95% CI, −0.5 to 0.8]), or quality of life (EuroQol 5 Dimensions questionnaire index score, 2 weeks: 0.06 [95% CI, −0.00 to 0.12], and 10 weeks: 0.04; 95% CI, −0.02 to 0.10; EuroQol visual analog scale, 2 weeks: 0.6 [95% CI, −9.7 to 10.9], and 10 weeks: 4.2 [95% CI, −6.0 to 14.4]). Two hospitalizations occurred from increased suicidal ideation, and more injection site reactions (degarelix: 22 of 25 [88%]; placebo: 1 of 26 [4%]) and hepatobiliary enzyme level elevations were reported by participants who received degarelix (degarelix: 11 of 25 [44%]; placebo: 2 of 26 [8%]). Among the 26 participants randomized to receive degarelix, 20 (77%) experienced positive effects (eg, improved attitude or behavior) on sexuality and 23 (89%) reported adverse effects on the body. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: This trial found that degarelix reduced the risk score for committing child sexual abuse in men with pedophilic disorder 2 weeks after initial injection, suggesting use of the drug as a rapid-onset treatment option. Further studies are warranted into the effects and long-term adverse effects of hormone deficiency. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EU Clinical Trials Register Identifier: 2014-000647-32