Paraphilias are complex psychiatric disorders involving unusual sexual behaviors. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines paraphilias as recurrent, intensely sexually arousing fantasies, urges or behaviors involving non-consenting persons, children, suffering or humiliation. To be diagnosed, the behavior must occur over 6 months and cause clinically significant distress or impairment. There are eight specific paraphilias including exhibitionism, fetishism, frotteurism, pedophilia, sexual masochism, sexual sadism, transvestic fetishism, and voyeurism.

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Paraphilias
Definition
Paraphilias are complex psychiatric disorders
that are manifested as unusual sexual behavior.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) defined
it as a “recurrent, intensely sexually arousing
fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors generally
involving:
Inanimate objects (non-human objects)
Suffering or humiliation of oneself or
partner
Children
Nonconsenting person
Diagnosis
The criteria for diagnosing this disorder are:
Criterion A: the unusual sexual behavior should occur over a period of 6 months
Criterion B: the sexual behavior caused a clinically significant distress or impairment in
social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. Criterion B differs in for
some disorders.
For pedophilia, voyeurism, exhibitionism and frotteurism, the diagnosis is
formulated if acting out on these urges or if the urge itself caused a significant
distress or interpersonal difficulty.
For sadism, a diagnosis is made if these urges are done to a nonconsenting
person.
For the other paraphilias, a diagnosis created when the sexual behavior, urges or
fantasies caused a clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational or other important areas of functioning.
Eight specific disorders of paraphilia
1. Exhibitionism – the repeated urge or behavior of exposing one’s genitals to
strangers or masturbating in public areas.

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2. Exhibitionism – this is characterized by the use of inanimate objects (fetish) to
achieve orgasm or gain sexual excitement. Common fetishes are women’s
undergarments (brassiere, lingerie, and panty), shoes and other apparels. An
individual with this disorder masturbates while holding or rubbing the object to
them.
3. Frotteurism – persistent urges of touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting
person in a place where a person with this disorder can make a quick escape (e.g.
crowded places, public transportation, shopping mall or a crowded sidewalk). The
person rubs his hands against a victim’s breasts or genitalia or he can rub his
genitals against the victim’s thigh or buttocks.
4. Pedophilia – a sexual activity done with a child 13 years younger is a
characteristic of this disorder. The pedophile should be at least 16 years old or at
least 5 years older than the victim.
5. Sexual masochism – the intense and persistent sexual urge involving acts of
suffering (beaten or bound) and being humiliated.
6. Sexual sadism – sexual urge involving acts in which the pain, suffering or
humiliation of a partner is arousing a person.
7. Transvestic fetishism – sexual fantasies, urge and behaviors involving cross-
dressing by a heterosexual male.
8. Voyeurism – sexual arousal by observing an unsuspecting person who is naked, in
the process of undressing or engaging in sexual activity.