The Prevention Project Dunkelfeld (PPD) is an effort founded in
Germany to provide clinical and support services to individuals who are sexually attracted to children (
pedophiles
Pedophilia ( alternatively spelt paedophilia) is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children. Although girls typically begin the process of puberty a ...
and
hebephiles) and want help controlling their sexual urges, but are otherwise unknown to the legal authorities. The term "Dunkelfeld" is German for "dark field". The project began in
Berlin in June 2005 with a large media campaign to contact pedophiles and hebephiles who wanted help from clinicians to manage their paraphilia. The campaign pledged
medically confidential treatment free-of-charge. It was initially funded by the
Volkswagen Foundation, and has been financially supported by the German government since 2008.
The project's slogan is "You are not guilty because of your sexual desire, but you are responsible for your sexual behavior. There is help! Don't become an offender!"
By 2010 a total of 1,134 people had responded. Of those 499 had a completed diagnosis, and 255 had been offered a place in therapy. More than half had previously attempted to find therapy without success. The therapy offered has three main components. Patients are encouraged to accept the fact that they have such sexual inclinations, integrate it into their
self-concept
In the psychology of self, one's self-concept (also called self-construction, self-identity, self-perspective or self-structure) is a collection of beliefs about oneself. Generally, self-concept embodies the answer to the question ''"Who am I? ...
, and involve relatives or partners in the therapeutic process.
Cognitive behaviour therapy is used to improve coping skills, stress management, and sexual attitudes. Drugs that reduce general sex drive, such as
serotonin reuptake inhibitor
A serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) is a type of drug which acts as a reuptake inhibitor of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT) by blocking the action of the serotonin transporter (SERT). This in turn leads to increase ...
s and
anti-androgen
Antiandrogens, also known as androgen antagonists or testosterone blockers, are a class of drugs that prevent androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from mediating their biological effects in the body. They act by blocking th ...
s, may also be offered.
The PPD and the individuals who join the organization have been the subject of several research studies.
[Beier, K. M., Neutze, J., Mundt, I. A., Ahlers, C. J., Goecker, D., Konrad, A., & Schaefer, G. A. (2009). "Encouraging self-identified pedophiles and hebephiles to seek professional help: First results of the Prevention Project Dunkelfeld". ''Child Abuse & Neglect'', 33, 545–549. .][Neutrz, J., Seto, M. C., Schaefer, G. A., Mundt, I. A., Beier, K. M. (2011). "Predictors of child pornography offences and child sexual abuse in a community sample of pedophiles and hebephiles". ''Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment'', 23, 212–242.]
See also
*
Hebephilia
Hebephilia is the strong, persistent sexual interest by adults in pubescent children who are in early adolescence, typically ages 11–14 and showing Tanner stages 2 to 3 of physical development. It differs from pedophilia (the primary or exclu ...
References
External links
Prevention Project Dunkelfeld website (German)Prevention Project Dunkelfeld website (English)
{{Pedophilia
Crime prevention
Pedophilia
Child sexual abuse in Germany
Sexology
Healthcare in Germany