Simulated paraphilias: a preliminary study of patients who imitate or exaggerate paraphilic symptoms and behaviors.
In a consecutive series of admissions to the Johns Hopkins Sexual Disorders Unit, 4 out of 20 patients appeared to have simulated paraphilic symptoms that further assessment indicated were either exaggerated or not present. The paper presents case histories of these 4 patients. A descriptive comparison is made between these patients and control groups of patients who admitted having paraphilic symptoms and a group of patients accused of having paraphilic symptoms but who denied them. Patients who simulated paraphilias tended to be self-referred (75%) and without current legal charges (100%). None of these patients was referred or sought treatment for pedophilia, in contrast to the other two patient groups, in which pedophilia accounted for 75% of the referrals. Several possible explanations for why patients might simulate paraphilias and implications for therapists who evaluate or treat sex offenders are discussed.
Fedoroff
J P
JP
Forensics Division, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto, Canada.
Hanson
A
A
McGuire
M
M
Malin
H M
HM
Berlin
F S
FS
D000328:Adult; D005084:Exhibitionism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000150:complications; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000150:complications; D010262:Paraphilic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010378:Pedophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*