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Questionnaires designed to measure the perceived value of technical terminology for psycholegal reports were completed by 67 judges, 78 forensic psychiatrists, and 126 forensic psychologists. Judges were asked for ratings of the degree to which each term aids their understanding, and clinicians were asked for ratings of the likelihood that they would use each term in a report for the court. Rank-ordered ratings of the 45 terms were highly correlated among the three respondent groups, suggesting that forensic clinicians are generally aware of the problem of using incomprehensible psychojargon. Empirical ratings can be helpful in distinguishing between comprehensible and incomprehensible psychojargon for psycholegal use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological therapies as described by Marshall are but one means of reducing the rapist's and child molester's sexual aggressive urges and behaviors. Various organic therapies have been recommended, including psychosurgery and surgical castration. Spodak, Falck, and Rappeport review a newer and more reversible form of castration, chemical castration by the use of the female hormone medroxyprogesterone acetate and the new antiandrogen, cyproterone acetate. These drugs are used to decrease the functioning level of the male hormone, testosterone. Reduction of testosterone appears to decrease overall sexual drive and rather rapidly allows the rapist or child molester to gain greater control (in some cases complete control) of his aggressive sexual urges.Spodak, Falck, and Rappeport describe the use of these hormonal agents, their effects and side effects, and give therapists some guidelines to follow when using these chemical interventions. Although not seen as a panacea, these agents do appear rapidly to assist the deviant in gaining control of his urges, and when coupled with psychotherapy they serve a valuable adjunct to the therapist armamentarium. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]