Involves intense,
recurrent and sexually arousing fantasies involving the exposure of
the individual's genitals. This may, in turn, translate into putting
this fantasy into action and engaging in these behaviors. However,
a key feature of this need is that the individual be a stranger or
unsuspecting. Disorder features are:
Repeatedly for at least 6 months the patient has intense sexual desires,
fantasies or behavior concerning genital self-exposure to an unsuspecting
stranger.
This causes clinically important distress or impairs work, social
or personal functioning.
Associated
Features:
Personal Immaturity.
Stress.
Differential
Diagnosis:
Some disorders have similar or even the same symptoms. The clinician,
therefore, in his/her diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against
the following disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a
precise diagnosis.
Mental
Retardation
Senile Brain Dementia
Antisocial
Personality Disorder
Schizophrenia
Cause:
Many mild and
considered acceptable forms of exhibitionism are considered normal
in our culture. Children often have a natural curiosity about their
genitals and the genitals of others. Young children may like to try
to shock adults or other children by showing their genitals or underwear.
This is typically a passing phase and only calls for professional
treatment if it persists. Similarly, adolescents have been expressing
disapproval through "mooning" for years. Wearing suggestive
clothing or strip teasing for a significant other are common activities.
Treatment:
Almost
always the treatment must be long-term if it is to be effective.
Most exhibitionists
do not receive treatment until they are caught by the police and the
court orders treatment.
Counseling and Psychotherapy [ See
Therapy Section ]:
Cognitive,
behavior, and psychoanalytic therapies are used to treat individuals
with paraphilia's.
Pharmacotherapy
[ See Psychopharmacology
Section ] :
Some
prescription medicines have been used to help decrease the compulsive
thinking associated with the paraphilia's. Hormones are prescribed
occasionally for individuals who experience intrusive sexual thoughts,
urges, or abnormally frequent sexual behaviors.
