Mental disorders and DSM-IV paedophilia in 185 subjects convicted of sexual child abuse.
The objective of this study was to explore how sexual child abusers who meet the DSM-IV criteria for paedophilia differ from those who do not. We studied DSM-IV disorders and paedophilic interests in all cases of sexual child abuse referred to forensic psychiatric investigation in Sweden between 1993 and 1997 (n=185). Frequency and severity of other mental disorders did not differ between subjects with and without DSM-IV paedophilia. However, men with paedophilia had more previous paedophilia convictions, same-sex and younger victims and less often intoxicated status when committing the act. The concept of paedophilia as a mental disorder is not supported by the DSM-IV diagnosis, which primarily describes the acting out of attraction.
Carlstedt
Anita
A
Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. anita.carlstedt@rmv.se
Innala
Sune
S
Brimse
Agneta
A
Söderström Anckarsäter
Henrik
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010378:Pedophilia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*