A world-first randomised clinical trial in men with paedophilic disorder shows that a dose of degarelix acetate may reduce their risk factors for committing child sexual abuse within two weeks.

In the landmark Swedish trial, 53 men (mean age 36 years) were randomised either to 240mg subcutaneous injection of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist, which is indicated for androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer, or to placebo injection.

All participants were recruited through a Swedish help line for unwanted sexuality, were seeking help for paedophilic disorder, and had no prior conviction for sexual abuse, the authors reported in JAMA Psychiatry.

The primary outcome was a composite score intended to measure the risk of committing child sexual abuse, covering five domains: paedophilic disorder, sexual preoccupation, impaired self-regulation, low empathy and self-rated risk. Scores could lie between zero and 15, with high scores showing greatest risk.