Sex, immorality, and mental disorders.
Although the definition of a mental disorder has remained essentially the same from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Third Edition, Revised (DSM-III-R) through DSM-IV to DSM-IV-TR, the account of the paraphilias has changed continually. Although the definition in all the DSMs explicitly rules out deviant sexual behavior as sufficient for labeling someone as having a mental disorder, deviant sexual behavior counts as sufficient for all the paraphilias in DSM-III-R. In DSM-IV, the account of all the paraphilias is made consistent with the definition. In DSM-IV-TR, mere deviant sexual behavior is not sufficient for being classified as having a paraphilia, but immoral deviant sexual behavior is. Thus, in DSM-IV-TR, only those paraphilias that involve immoral deviant sexual behavior are inconsistent with the definition, but deviant sexual behavior by itself does not count as a mental disorder.
Gert
Bernard
B
Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. bernard.gert@dartmouth.edu
Culver
Charles M
CM
D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D009014:Morals; D010262:Paraphilic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012725:Sexual Behavior