Social Skills Therapy for Paraphilic Disorders

Age: 18+

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Disqualifiers: Psychoses, In custody, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 15

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether group psychotherapy can help men with problematic sexual interests by enhancing their social skills. Participants will be divided into two groups: one focusing on adult interests and the other on social skills development. The goal is to determine if these therapies can reduce unlawful behaviors and promote healthier relationships. Men assessed as having a sexual interest in children and who can speak English might be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could lead to new therapeutic approaches.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this social skills therapy is safe?

Research shows that group therapy, including social skills therapy, is generally safe. This therapy has been used for many conditions without causing serious side effects. For individuals with certain disorders, the therapy focuses on enhancing social skills and understanding consent, aiming to help participants build healthier relationships. Studies have not reported any specific negative effects from this therapy. Since this study is not linked to a specific trial phase, it suggests that social skills therapy is already well-accepted. Participants typically find the sessions helpful in managing behaviors and improving social interactions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the group psychotherapy treatment for paraphilic disorders because it focuses on enhancing social skills and fostering healthy relationships, which is a unique approach compared to traditional treatments like medication or individual therapy. The "Adult interest group psychotherapy" aims to stop illegal sexual behavior while promoting noncriminal sexual interests, emphasizing informed and consensual relationships. Meanwhile, the "Social skills group psychotherapy" is tailored to help individuals improve their interactions with authority figures and build healthier romantic relationships, particularly benefiting those with social interaction challenges. These treatments offer a fresh perspective by addressing cognitive distortions and social skills directly, potentially leading to more sustainable behavioral changes.

What evidence suggests that this trial's group psychotherapies could be effective for paraphilic disorders?

Research has shown that social skills therapy can help people with paraphilic disorders, which involve unusual sexual interests. This trial includes a Social Skills Group Psychotherapy arm, focusing on improving relationships and social interactions to reduce harmful behaviors. In these group sessions, participants learn to change their thinking patterns, aiding in better decision-making. Studies suggest that learning social skills and understanding consent can lead to more lawful and healthy behaviors. Although more research is needed, early results are promising for this approach in managing paraphilic interests. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Dave Holmes, PhD

Principal Investigator

The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group (ROHCG)

Emily Tippins, MSc

Principal Investigator

The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group (ROHCG)

John Bradford, MD

Principal Investigator

The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group (ROHCG)

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adult males who have been assessed for sexual interest in children and understand English. It aims to help those with paraphilic disorders by enhancing social skills to prevent non-consensual acts.

Inclusion Criteria

Understand English

Been assessed for a question of sexual interest in children

I was born male.

Exclusion Criteria

Cannot understand and/or read English

I am under 18 years old.

In custody at the time of SBC assessment

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants are randomized into a social skills group or a control group and attend weekly sessions for 3 months

12 weeks

12 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in social skills, sexual consent, and sexual interests post-treatment

4 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Group psychotherapy

Trial Overview The study tests if improving social skills can reduce problematic sexual behaviors. Participants are divided into two groups: one attends a social skills group, the other focuses on adult interests, meeting weekly for 3 months.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Social skills group psychotherapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Originally designed to meet the needs of patients with ASD or ASPD, this group is now popular with patients who want to work on issues involving their relationships with their probation or parole officers or in establishing health romantic relationships.

Group II: Adult interest group psychotherapy Active Control 1 Intervention

The adult interest group has dual aims to (1) stop illegal sex acts and (2) enhance noncriminal sexual interests. The group focuses on respect for informed, voluntary, revocable, consent by examining various cognitive distortions that group members may endorse.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Lead Sponsor

Trials

24

Recruited

2,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Behavior therapy has been effective in treating neurotic patients, and it is increasingly being tailored to individual needs, especially for those with paraphilias, which often require personalized treatment plans.

While initial results of behavior therapy for paraphilias appear positive, there is a critical need for more research to evaluate long-term therapy outcomes and effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Behavior therapy in sex deviations--an orienting overview]. Kockott, G.[2019]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-paraphilic-disorders-1-2023-9bd43

Social Skills Therapy for Paraphilic Disorders What data supports the effectiveness of social skills therapy for paraphilic disorders? ... While initial results of behavior therapy for paraphilias ...

2. emedicine.medscape.com emedicine.medscape.com/article/291419-treatment

Paraphilic Disorders Treatment & Management Group therapy. Group therapy in this setting is designed to help paraphilic individuals break through the denial they so commonly exhibit by ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4743592/

The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry ... The most important change in DSM-5 is the distinction between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders: “a paraphilia by itself would not automatically justify or ...

4. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bsl.2448

A narrative review of research on clinical responses to the ... LHRH agonists are more effective than steroidal antiandrogens in reducing paraphilic thoughts and behaviors. Choi et al. (2018), Seven sex ...

5. clinicaltrial.be clinicaltrial.be/en/details/266199?per_page=100&only_recruiting=0&only_eligible=0

Enhancing Consensual Social Skills to Prevent Non- ... Paraphilias and Paraphilic Disorders. KeywordsParaphiliasPedophiliaPhallometryGroup psychotherapySocial skillsSexual arousalConsent ... efficacy ...

6. cambridge.org cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/paraphilias-and-paraphilic-disorders-diagnosis-assessment-and-management/8DA2119F2AE98194BDFD48D7FC883D67

Paraphilias and paraphilic disorders: diagnosis, ... Although serious sexual violence in people with paraphilias is rare, up to 80% of sexual murderers have a history of paraphilic behaviours ( ...

7. wfsbp.org wfsbp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Thibaut_TG_Paraphilias_2020.pdf

The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry ( ... ation therapy for paraphilic disorders. Nevertheless, the use of bisphosphonates is recommended in men with osteodensitometry-proven ...