# Psychosexual disorder

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Medical condition

Psychosexual disorder Specialty Psychiatry

**Psychosexual disorder** is a sexual problem that is psychological, rather than physiological in origin. "Psychosexual disorder" was a term used in [Freudian psychology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Freudian_psychology). The term "psychosexual disorder" ([Turkish](/source/Turkish_language): *Psikoseksüel bozukluk*) has been used by the [TAF](/source/Turkish_Armed_Forces) for [homosexuality](/source/Homosexuality) as a reason to ban the [LGBT](/source/LGBT) people from military service.

## Paraphilias

[Paraphilias](/source/Paraphilias) are generally defined as psychosexual disorders in which significant distress or an impairment in a domain of functioning results from recurrent intense sexual urges, fantasies or behaviors generally involving an unusual object, activity, or situation.[1] An alternative definition is given by the DSM-5 which labels them as sexual; attractions to objects, situations or people that deviate from the desires and sexual behaviors that are considered to be socially acceptable. Examples of these paraphilias would include fetishism, sexual masochism and sadism and more.[2]

### Fetishism and transvestic fetishism

[Fetishism](/source/Fetishism) is a disorder that is characterized by a sexual fixation, fantasies or behaviors toward an inanimate object, these objects frequently are articles of clothing. It is only through this object which the individual can achieve sexual gratification. It is not rare that an individual will rub or smell the object. This disorder is more common in males and it is not understood why.[3]

[Transvestic fetishism](/source/Transvestic_Fetishism) also commonly known as transvestism, is a diagnoses found in the DSM. There are four factors that revolve around this syndrome. These include cross-dressing, being associated with sexual arousal, in a biological male, and the person has to be a heterosexual male.[4]

### Sexual sadism and sexual masochism

The disorders known as sexual sadism and sexual masochism are oftentimes confused or hard to separate when their definitions are compared but diagnostic criteria differ slightly between the two and allows for more easy classification.[5] [Sexual sadism disorder](/source/Sexual_sadism_disorder) and [sexual masochism](/source/Sexual_Masochism) are defined as receiving sexual arousal from the humiliation, pain and or suffering of an individual and are thought to overlap with multiple other conditions due to its description along with diagnostic criteria.[5]

### Voyeurism, exhibitionism and frotteurism

[Voyeurism](/source/Voyeurism) is self-reported sexual arousal from spying on others or the observation of others who are engaged in sexual interaction.[6]

[Exhibitionism](/source/Exhibitionism) are public acts of exposing parts of one's body that are not socially acceptable to be exposed.[6] Exhibitionistic acts are among the most common of the potentially law-breaking sexual behaviors.[6] Examples of this would include "streaking" during a professional sporting event or protesting a political event in the nude.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

[Frotteurism](/source/Frotteurism) is considered a rare paraphilia that revolves around an individual's sexual satisfaction being derived from rubbing upon another non-consenting individual.[7] The term frotteurism itself can be broken down and derived from the French verb *frotter* which means rubbing.[6]

## Diagnosis

In the DSM-5 all paraphilia disorders can be diagnosed by two main criteria that are referred to criteria A and criteria B respectively. The A and B criteria include a duration in which the behavior must be present for (typically six months) and specific details of actions or thoughts that are correlated specifically with the respective disorder being diagnosed.[8]

## Treatment

Psychosexual disorders can vary greatly in severity and treatability. Medical professionals and licensed therapists are necessary in diagnosis and treatment plans. Treatment can vary from therapy to prescription medication. Sex therapy, behavioral therapy, and group therapy may be helpful to those distressed by sexual dysfunction. More serious sexual disorders may be treated with [androgen blockers](/source/Androgen_blockers) or [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors](/source/Selective_serotonin_reuptake_inhibitor) (SSRIs) to help restore hormonal and neurochemical balances.[9]

## History

### Sigmund Freud

[Sigmund Freud](/source/Sigmund_Freud) has contributed to the idea of psychosexual disorders and furthered research of the topic through his ideas of [psychosexual development](/source/Psychosexual_development) and his [psychoanalytic](/source/Psychoanalysis) [sex drive theory](/source/Drive_Theory). According to Freud's ideas of psychosexual development, as a child, one will progress through five stages of development. These stages being the oral stage (1 -1 1/2 yrs), the anal stage(1 1/2- 3yrs) phallic stage (3-5 yrs), the latency stage (5-12 yrs) and the genital stage (from puberty on). A psychosexual disorder could arise in an individual if the individual does not progress through these stages properly. Proper progression through these stages requires the correct amounts of stimulation and gratification at each stage. If there is too little stimulation at a certain stage [fixation](/source/Fixation_(psychology)) occurs and becoming overly fixated could lead to a psychosexual disorder. In contrast, too much stimulation at a certain stage of development could lead to [regression](/source/Regression_(psychology)) when that individual is in distress, also possibly leading to a psychosexual disorder.[10][11]

### Richard Freiherr von Kraft-Ebing

[Richard Krafft-Ebing](/source/Richard_von_Krafft-Ebing) was a German psychiatrist who sought to revolutionize sexuality in the late nineteenth century. Working in a time of sexual modesty, Krafft-Ebing brought light to sexuality as an innate human nature verses deviancy. His most notable work, *[Psychopathia Sexualis](/source/Psychopathia_Sexualis_(Richard_von_Krafft-Ebing_book))*, was a collection of case studies highlighting sexual practices of the general public.[12] The textbook was the first of its kind recognizing the variation within human sexuality, such as: nymphomania, fetishism, and homosexuality.[13] Psychiatrists were now able to diagnose psychosexual disorders in place of perversions. *Psychopathia Sexualis* was used as reference in psychological, medical, and judicial settings. Krafft-Ebing is considered the founder of medical sexology; he is the predecessor of both [Sigmund Freud](/source/Sigmund_Freud) and [Havelock Ellis](/source/Havelock_Ellis).[12]

### Havelock Ellis

[Havelock Ellis](/source/Havelock_Ellis) was an English physician and writer born in the eighteen hundreds who studied human sexuality, and is referred to as one of the earliest sexologists. Ellis's work was geared towards human sexual behavior. His major work was a seven-volume publication called *Studies in the Psychology of Sex*, which related sex to society. Published in 1921, *Studies in the Psychology of Sex* covered the evolution of modesty, sexual periodicity, auto-erotism, sexual inversion, sexual impulse, sexual selection, and erotic symbolism.[14] Ellis also conceived the term eonism, which references a man dressing as a woman. He elaborated on this term in his publication of *Eonism and Other Supplementary Studies.*[15] He wrote *Sexual Inversion* as well in hopes to address any ignorance people have on the topic.[16]

## See also

- [LGBT rights in Turkey](/source/LGBT_rights_in_Turkey)

- [Psychoanalysis](/source/Psychoanalysis)

- [Sigmund Freud](/source/Sigmund_Freud)

- [Psychosexual development](/source/Psychosexual_development)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Balon R (2013). "Controversies in the diagnosis and treatment of paraphilias". *Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy*. **39** (1): 7–20. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/0092623X.2012.709219](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F0092623X.2012.709219). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [23152966](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23152966). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [32024053](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:32024053).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Kamens SR (January 2011). "On the proposed sexual and gender identity diagnoses for DSM-5: History and controversies". *The Humanistic Psychologist*. **39** (1): 37–59. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/08873267.2011.539935](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F08873267.2011.539935).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Wise TN (1985). "Fetishism: Etiology and treatment. A review from multiple perspectives". *Comprehensive Psychiatry*. **26** (3): 249–257. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/0010-440X(85)90070-7](https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0010-440X%2885%2990070-7). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [3888517](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3888517).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Blanchard R (April 2010). "The DSM diagnostic criteria for transvestic fetishism". *Archives of Sexual Behavior*. **39** (2): 363–372. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s10508-009-9541-3](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10508-009-9541-3). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [19757010](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19757010). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [25290102](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:25290102).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Berner_2003_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Berner_2003_5-1) Berner W, Berger P, Hill A (August 2003). "Sexual sadism". *International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology*. **47** (4): 383–395. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1177/0306624X03256131](https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0306624X03256131). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [12971180](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12971180). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [25862983](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:25862983).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Långström_2010_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Långström_2010_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Långström_2010_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Långström_2010_6-3) Långström N (April 2010). "The DSM diagnostic criteria for exhibitionism, voyeurism, and frotteurism". *Archives of Sexual Behavior*. **39** (2): 317–324. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s10508-009-9577-4](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10508-009-9577-4). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [19924524](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19924524). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [31098781](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:31098781).Langstrom, N. (2010). The Dem Diagnostic Criteria for Exhibitionism, Voyeurism and Frotteurism. Arch Sex Behavior. 39: 317-324. DOI 10.1007/s10508-009-9577-4

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Horley J (2001). "Frotteurism: A term in search of an underlying disorder?". *Journal of Sexual Aggression: An International Interdisciplinary Forum for Research, Theory and Practice*. **7** (1): 51–55. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/13552600108413321](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F13552600108413321). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [145232880](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:145232880).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** American Psychiatric Association (2013). *Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders* (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Psychosexual Disorders"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160617011008/http://www.mdguidelines.com/psychosexual-disorders). *MDGuidelines*. Reed Group, Ltd. Archived from [the original](http://www.mdguidelines.com/psychosexual-disorders) on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Fancher RE, Rutherford A (2012). *Pioneers of psychology : a history* (4th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-393-93530-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-393-93530-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Freud S (1940). *The development of the sexual function*. Vol. 23 (Standard ed.). pp. 152–156.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sexual_modernity_in_the_works_of_Ri_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sexual_modernity_in_the_works_of_Ri_12-1) Oosterhuis H (April 2012). ["Sexual modernity in the works of Richard von Krafft-Ebing and Albert Moll"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3381524). *Medical History*. **56** (2): 133–155. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/mdh.2011.30](https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fmdh.2011.30). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [3381524](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3381524). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [23002290](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23002290).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Krafft-Ebing R (1998). [*Psychopathia sexualis: With especial reference to the antipathic sexual instinct: A medico-forensic study*](https://archive.org/stream/psychopathiasexu00krafuoft/psychopathiasexu00krafuoft_djvu.txt). Arcade Publishing.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Ellis H (1921). *Studies in the Psychology of Sex*. Vol. 6. p. 2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Crozier_2000_15-0)** Crozier I (June 2000). "Havelock Ellis, Eonism and the patient's discourse; or, writing a book about sex". *History of Psychiatry*. **11** (42 Pt 2): 125–54. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1177/0957154X0001104201](https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0957154X0001104201). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [11624659](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11624659). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [32666520](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:32666520).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Ellis H (1925). *Sexual inversion* (3rd ed.). pp. 9–10.

## External links

Classification D ICD-10: F66.8-F66.9 ICD-9-CM: 302.7

v t e Mental disorders (Classification) Adult personality and behavior Sexual Ego-dystonic sexual orientation Paraphilia Fetishism Voyeurism Sexual anhedonia Sexual anorexia Sexual maturation disorder Sexual relationship disorder Compulsive sexual behaviour disorder Other Factitious disorder Munchausen syndrome Fear of intimacy Gender dysphoria Intermittent explosive disorder Dermatillomania Kleptomania Pyromania Trichotillomania Personality disorder Childhood and learning Emotional and behavioral ADHD Conduct disorder ODD Emotional and behavioral disorders Separation anxiety disorder Movement disorders Stereotypic Social functioning DAD RAD Selective mutism Speech Cluttering Stuttering Tic disorder Tourette syndrome Intellectual disability X-linked intellectual disability Lujan–Fryns syndrome Psychological development (developmental disabilities) Pervasive Specific Mood (affective) Bipolar Bipolar I Bipolar II Bipolar NOS Cyclothymia Depression Atypical depression Dysthymia Major depressive disorder Melancholic depression Seasonal affective disorder Mania Neurological and symptomatic Autism spectrum Autism Asperger syndrome High-functioning autism PDD-NOS Savant syndrome Dementia AIDS dementia complex Alzheimer's disease Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease Frontotemporal dementia Huntington's disease Mild cognitive impairment Parkinson's disease Pick's disease Sundowning Vascular dementia Wandering Other Delirium Organic brain syndrome Post-concussion syndrome Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform Adjustment Adjustment disorder with depressed mood Anxiety Phobia Agoraphobia Childhood phobia Social anxiety Social phobia Anthropophobia Specific social phobia Specific phobia Claustrophobia Other Generalized anxiety disorder OCD Panic attack Panic disorder Paranoia Stress Acute stress reaction PTSD Dissociative Depersonalization-derealization disorder Dissociative identity disorder Dissociative amnesia Dissociative fugue Dissociative disorder not otherwise specified Other specified dissociative disorder Somatic symptom Body dysmorphic disorder Conversion disorder Ganser syndrome Globus pharyngeus Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures False pregnancy Hypochondriasis Mass psychogenic illness Nosophobia Psychogenic pain Physiological and physical behavior Eating Anorexia nervosa Bulimia nervosa Binge eating disorder Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder Pica Rumination syndrome Other specified feeding or eating disorder Nonorganic sleep Hypersomnia Insomnia Parasomnia Night terror Nightmare REM sleep behavior disorder Postnatal Postpartum depression Postpartum psychosis Sexual desire Hypersexuality Hypoactive sexual desire disorder Psychoactive substances, substance abuse and substance-related Drug overdose Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder Intoxication Physical dependence Rebound effect Stimulant psychosis Substance dependence Substance-induced psychosis Withdrawal Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional Delusional Delusional disorder Folie à deux Psychosis and schizophrenia-like Brief reactive psychosis Schizoaffective disorder Schizophreniform disorder Schizophrenia Childhood schizophrenia Disorganized (hebephrenic) schizophrenia Pseudoneurotic schizophrenia Simple-type schizophrenia Other Catatonia Symptoms and uncategorized Impulse-control disorder Klüver–Bucy syndrome Psychomotor agitation Stereotypy Caregiver burden Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Psychosexual disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosexual_disorder) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosexual_disorder?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.