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Use of Testosterone-Lowering Medication in Patients With Intellectual Disabilities and Problematic Sexual Behaviour: A Case Series

Bentsen JR, Kjær TL, Balleby MR, Nielsen J

Case reports in psychiatry, 2026

1 citation

Abstract

Background: Testosterone-lowering medication (TLM) is used in severe cases of paraphilic disorders and problematic sexual behaviour, but its use in patients with intellectual disability is not well characterised.

Method: A nationwide survey identified five male patients with intellectual disability who had received TLM in specialised outpatient clinics.

Results: Four patients showed reduced problematic sexual behaviour during treatment; three relapsed after discontinuation. Adverse effects included osteoporosis, hypertension, depression and suppressed sexual development. Monitoring and access varied regionally.

Conclusions: TLM may be effective in selected patients with intellectual disability but requires careful monitoring and ethical oversight.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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