Abstract
The DSM-5 diagnostic category of paraphilia is critically examined. Significant problems are found including: whether these are properly subtyped, the extent to which it relies on an unclear definitional strategy, whether the justification and process for revisions was sound, how the paraphilias relate to the general definition of mental disorders given in the DSM-5, whether the diagnostic categories are developmentally sensitive, the extent to which the DSM-5 assumes knowledge that does not actually exist (e.g., regarding “predisposing, precipitating and protective factors”), unknown interrater reliabilities, a new and dubious distinction between a paraphilic orientation and a paraphilic disorder, whether there are missing paraphilias particularly associated with rape, whether it calls for an overreliance on self-report, as well as several other problems. The chapter concludes that with the number and magnitude of these problems whether this diagnostic category ought to be used.
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O’Donohue, W. (2016). Problems in the Classification and Diagnosis of the Paraphilias: What Is the Evidence That the DSM Warrants Use?. In: Laws, D., O'Donohue, W. (eds) Treatment of Sex Offenders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25868-3_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25868-3_1
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