HC Deb 18 February 1976 vol 905 cc740-1W
Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent pornography is used in the treatment of certain kinds of sexual problems; how much is being spent on its purchase by hospitals within the National Health Service; who decides what shall be purchased; who supplies it; and what positive effects it has shown and in what sort of cases.

Dr. Owen

The precise treatment given to any individual patient is a matter for the responsible clinician to determine in the light of his own assessment and diagnosis of the particular case and comprehensive records of the multitude of different treatments which may be used in the NHS are not maintained.

However, behaviour therapy for patients with sexual problems is practised within the psychiatric services; literature and visual material dealing with sexual matters may be used in this treatment. This kind of therapy forms a very small proportion of the total psychiatric service.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of an article on the Aversion Therapy Treatment of a Heterogeneous Group of Five Cases of Sexual Deviation (Acta. Psychiatrica Neurol. Scand. 44.113–123).

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