The Prevention Project Dunkelfeld (PPD) is an effort founded in Germany to provide clinical and support services to people who are sexually attracted to children (pedophiles and hebephiles) and want help controlling their sexual urges, but are otherwise unknown to the legal authorities.
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.
Patients are encouraged to accept the fact that they have such sexual inclinations, integrate it into their self-concept, 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 inhibitors and anti-androgens, may also be offered.