Sexual Disorders Presentation
Slide 1: Overview of the Disorders
- Overview of sexual dysfunction and paraphilic disorders
- Difference between sexual dysfunction disorder and paraphilic disorder
- Orgasm disorder as a sexual dysfunction disorder
- Sexual sadism as a paraphilic disorder
Adriana, (2018) defines sexual dysfunction as the problem that occurs during sexual response and prevents a couple or the individual from experiencing maximum satisfaction and pleasure from the sexual activity. In contrast, paraphilic disorders refer to the recurrent, intense, urges, sexually arousing fantasies, or behaviors which are disabling and distressing and involve humiliation of oneself or the partner with a potential to cause harm. Orgasm disorders make a victim fail to climax or delay climaxing during asexual activity (Adriana, 2018). Orgasm disorders are caused by illness, physical factors, and also certain medications. Sexual sadism disorder is the condition that causes humiliation, pain, fear, and some form of psychological or physical harm to another person in order to achieve sexual gratification. Extreme sexual sadism is a criminal offense for it causes serious harm of another person (Leonora, 2017).
Orgasm Disorder
- Orgasm disorder is the absence or delay of climax (orgasm)
- Orgasm disorders classified into premature, delayed, and retrograde ejaculations
- Psychological causes of orgasm disorders are depression, diffidence, stress, and anxiety
- Physical causes of orgasm disorders include alcoholism, surgeries, and chronic illness
According to (American Psychiatric Association, 2015), people affected by the orgasm disorder either do not achieve sexual climax or their sexual climaxing is often delayed. Orgasm disorders include ejaculation problems in men. Ejaculation disorders can either be premature, delayed, or retrograded. A premature ejaculation comes before or immediately the penetration occurs. A delayed ejaculation takes long time than normal to ejaculate following a penetration. Retrograde ejaculation is done into the bladder instead of the penile orifice. Orgasms disorders are caused by psychological and physical factors. The psychological factors that cause an orgasm disorder include conflict between partners, stress and depression, performance anxiety when on intercourse, and diffidence (Adriana, 2018). The physical causes of premature ejaculation include chronic illness, side effects of certain medications, surgery, and alcoholism.
Sexual Sadism Disorder
- Sexual sadism is a psychiatric sexual disorder
- Sexual sadism as infliction of suffering to another person to stimulate an orgasm
- Sexual sadism causes distress or functional impairment to a nonconsenting person
- Sexual sadism victims act with intense urges or distressing fantasies to have sex
Sexual sadism disorder is categorized as a paraphilic disorder. The victims of sexual sadism have sexual preferences, fantasies, interest, behaviors, and urges outside the norm. However, a person is considered to have sexual sadism disorder if he or she acts in a manner that has a potential to cause harm or distress to others who are unconsented (Leonora, 2017). A sexual sadism victim causes humiliation, pain, fear, and physical harm to another person while trying to achieve sexual satisfaction. Examples of sadistic acts include imprisonment, beating, biting, whipping, beating, or spanking. If an individual practices these sadistic acts at least three times repeatedly with no consent from their partner(s), then sexual sadism becomes diagnosed (Adriana, 2018). Extreme sexual sadism acts and behavior is considered a crime, and is punishable by law.
Symptoms of Orgasm Disorder
As catalogued by the DSM-5 criteria, the symptoms of orgasm disorder include:
- Marked delay, infrequency, or absence of orgasm
- Markedly reduced intensity of sexual orgasmic sensations
- Difficulty experiencing a sexual orgasm
- The symptoms cause clinically significant depression on the person
In reference to the DSM-5, orgasm disorder is characterized by the presence of either marked delay in, infrequency, and absence of climaxing or a reduced intensity of orgasmic sensations. According to (Leonora, 2017), a person must have experienced all these symptoms in almost all occasions of sexual activity, at least 75 percent to 100 percent of the occasions. Also, these symptoms must have been persistent for a period of at least six months where the person has experienced clinically significant distress. In men, these symptoms are diagnosed through testing of erectile dysfunction, delayed ejaculation, and premature ejaculation. In females, orgasmic disorder is diagnosed by difficulties experiencing orgasm or reduced intensity of these orgasmic sensations. (Leonora, 2017) The presence of significant interpersonal or contextual factors such as intimate partner violence and severe relationship distress is also another indicator that a woman has orgasmic disorder.
Symptoms of Sexual Sadism Disorder
In the DSM-5 criteria, the symptoms of sexual sadism disorder are:
- Recurrent and intense sexual arousal fantasies in the past 6 months
- Persistent and intense sexual urges or behaviors in the last 6 months and more
- The person having acted on these sexual urges with a nonconsenting individual
- The sexual urges or fantasies are causes clinically significant distress and impairment
In the DSM-5 criteria, a sexual sadism disorder individual must in at least 6 months experience intense and persistent sexual arousal from causing or fantasizing about the mental suffering or the physical harm of another individual, with or without their consent (Leonora, 2017). Still, sexual sadism is diagnosed through one’s behavior to impose psychological or physical harm on another being in order to have sexual gratification. According to (American Psychiatric Association, 2015), these sexual sadism disorders must contribute to severe dysfunction or distress in professional, social, or another important area of the individual’s day to day life activities and wellbeing. In the presence of antisocial personality disorder, dishonesty, remorse, poor impulse control, and lack of empathy; sexual sadism disorder becomes dangerous and hard to treat.
Treatment Approaches for Orgasm Disorder
- Behavioral approach, e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Sigmund Freud psychoanalytic therapy
- Sex therapy
- Medication
As a sexual dysfunction disorder, orgasmic disorders can be treated correctly by focusing on the underlying psychological or physical problems. The best treatment approaches for orgasmic disorder includes psychotherapy, behavioral treatment, sex therapy, medication, and education and communication (Adriana, 2018). Behavioral treatments for orgasm disorder include the cognitive behavioral therapy which gives a therapist insight into the obsessive behaviors that a person or couple has in the relationship. Other behavioral techniques such as self-stimulation are also used to treat problems with orgasm or arousal. The other treatment approach for orgasm disorder is psychotherapy, a technique established by Sigmund Freud (Leonora, 2017). Psychoanalysis involves counseling with a trained therapist who helps the victim address sexual trauma based on the past feelings of fear, anxiety, guilty, or poor body image which has an impact on his or her current sexual dysfunction. Also, sex therapy fits orgasm disorder treatment and here, marital counselors are consulted. In addition, medications may also help cure the dysfunction (Adriana, 2018).
Treatment Approaches for Sexual Sadism
- Use of individual cognitive behavior therapy
- Medications
- Psychoanalysis
According to (American Psychiatric Association, 2015), cognitive behavioral therapy helps a person recognize patterns of sexual arousal and learn healthier responses. In a counseling setting, a therapeutic technique referred to as cognitive restructuring is used and helps a person identify and address his or her distorted sexual thought patterns. The other approach for treating sexual sadism is medications. The right use of antidepressant medications help balance the brain chemicals as well as in lowering impulsive behavior (Adriana, 2018). Also, anti-androgenic drugs that help suppress the urges or drive to have sex that causes harm on another person may be administered to treat this sexual sadism disorder. In addition, psychoanalysis is used by a counselor in order to understand the history or family background of a client in order to determine whether his or her current sexual behavior is related to his or her background. However, these treatment approaches vary and their application depends on the specific needs of each person’s/ client’s case (American Psychiatric Association, 2015).
References
- Adriana, P. (2018). Female Orgasmic Disorder Treatment & Management. Pyschiatry, 16-25.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2015). Understanding Mental Disorders: Your Guide to DSM-5. Boston: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Leonora, K. M. (2017). Female Orgasmic Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment DSM-5 302.73 (F52.31). Counseling and Coaching, 6-17.