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In modern psychiatric classifications the term paraphilia has replaced the term perversion by changing the scope of the definitions from avoided procreation to failures of relationship-aspects of sexuality. Contemporary psychoanalysts also seem less interested in pleasure seeking aspects, which were so important within original Freudian thought, and instead concentrate interpretation on hostility and the history of the representation of objects. This paper discusses the connection between distinct object representations in perversions and attachment theory and neurobiological representations. It will discuss the observation that the neglect of pleasure seeking in perversion often results in a failure to recognise the addiction-like aspects of perversion, which seem to be particularly relevant to modern psychiatric and psychological thinking. The SEEKING-system (Panksepp, 1998) is used to conceptualise a neurobiological basis for pleasure seeking. This SEEKING- system may be "hijacked" by rewards in different forms of addiction as well as in sexual obsessions. The polarity between "drive representation" and "object representation," as created by Freud (1933, 1940a), may correspond to the polarity identified in contemporary thinking between the addictive or compulsive characteristics of sexual gratification (drive representation) and the influence of early object representation on the later ability to integrate instinctual wishes into relationships (object representation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to compare the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and 'psychopathy' in homicidal and nonhomicidal sexual offenders and to investigate the specificity of previous studies on psychiatric morbidity of a sample of sexual murderers. Information from court reports of 166 homicidal and 56 nonhomicidal sex offenders was evaluated using standardized instruments (SCID-II, PCL-R) and classification systems (DSM-IV). Sexual murderers were diagnosed more often with a personality disorder (80.1% vs. 50%; p < 0.001), especially schizoid personality disorder (16.3% vs. 5.4%; p < 0.05), as well as with sexual sadism (36.7% vs. 8.9%; p < 0.001) and sexual dysfunctions (21.7% vs. 7.1%; p < 0.05). Additionally, they had more often used alcohol during the offense (63.2% vs. 41%; p < 0.05). The results indicate that sexual murderers have more and a greater variety of psychiatric disorders when compared to nonhomicidal sex offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung is the property of Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung is the property of Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Controversies exist about the diagnostic validity of sexual sadism and its relation to sadistic personality disorder in sex offenders. The aim of this study was to investigate which diagnostic, developmental, and criminal characteristics differentiate sexual sadistic from non-sadistic sexual homicide perpetrators. Psychiatric court reports on 166 men who had committed a sexual homicide were evaluated regarding psychiatric, sexual and criminal history. Sixty-one offenders (36.7%) with sexual sadism (SeSd) were compared with 105 (63.3%) offenders without this diagnosis (NSeSd). Besides the sexual sadistic symptoms, there were seven factors that discriminated best between the two groups (sexual masochism, sadistic personality disorder, isolation in childhood, multiple sexual homicide, previous rape, previous tendencies for similar behavior, and long duration of the homicidal act). Sexual sadism is connected with circumscribed other characteristics and has to be considered in risk assessment and treatment of sex offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraphilic disorders (PAs) and sexual preoccupation are known risk factors for recidivism in sexual offenders. Nonparaphilic sexual excessive behaviors—so-called paraphilia-related disorders (PRDs), like paraphilias, are also characterized by sexual preoccupation and volitional impairment and can be diagnosed in paraphilic men. The prevalence and clinical significance of PRDs in sexual homicide perpetrators, however, is unknown. We investigated the relationship between PAs and PRDs retrospectively in a sample of 161 sexual murderers. Four groups were compared: men without a PA or a PRD diagnosis, men with at least one PRD but no PA, men with at least one PA but no PRD, and finally, those with a combination of both (PA+PRD). The PA+PRD group had the most lifetime cumulative sexual impulsivity disorders, more developmental problems, the highest persistent frequency of sexual activity, the highest number of previous sexual offences, more sexual sadism, and compulsive masturbation. Men of the PRD subsample had suffered more from childhood sexual abuse, showed more promiscuity, psychopathy, and alcohol problems. The use of the PRD concept in this special offender group should be further investigated with prospectively designed studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the number and type of brain abnormalities and their influence on psychosocial development, criminal history and paraphilias in sexual murderers. Earlier behavior problems in sexual murderers with brain abnormalities; Higher number of paraphilias; Transvestic fetishism and paraphilias more frequent in offenders with brain abnormalities.

Up to now there have been no published results of therapy of paraphilia (for example, pedophilia or sadism) and sexual aggressive impulsiveness with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists in the German-speaking countries. After a short intoduction about physiologic features and the present state of investigations in treatment of paraphilia with LHRH agonists we describe 11 patients who were treated with the LHRH agonist Leuprolide Acetate over a period of 12 months. The patients showed no tendency toward sexually aggressive behavior and reported an evident reduction of penile erection, ejaculation, masturbation, sexually deviant impulsiveness, and fantasies. One patient died from suicide. In combination with other treatments, LHRH Agonists seem to be a very promising alternative to cyproterone acetate and its possible carcinogene effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article responds to the previous two articles in this issue by Peer Briken and by Peter Fromberger and Jürgen L. Müller on the subject of free will in the case of the behavior and treatment of sexual offenders with sexual preference disorders (paraphilia). The writer claims that the latter writers confute pedophilia with homosexuality and that Briken fails to distinguish between premeditated action versus irresistible long-term impulse in paraphiles.