Sexual Sadism Sexual Disorder

Sexual Sadism Information

Sadism is deriving pleasure, often sexual, from mistreating others. Some of the severe activities involved in sexual sadism include burning, beating, stabbing, raping, and killing. The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. But to the sexually sadistic offender, it is the suffering of the victim that is sexually arousing.

Causes of Sexual Sadism

There is no clear cause but the age of onset is commonly by early adulthood. It is suggested that childhood trauma (e.g., sexual abuse) or significant childhood experiences can manifest itself in exhibitionistic behavior.

Symptoms of Sexual Sadism

Some charcteristics of sexual sadism are as -

• Repeatedly for at least 6 months, the patient experiences intense sexual desires, fantasies or behaviors concerning real acts of causing physical or psychological torment or otherwise humiliating another.
• This causes clinically important distress or impairs work, social or personal functioning. The sadism may take the form of restraining, beating, torturing, mutilating or even killing another.

Sexual Sadism Treatment and Medication

Treatment typically involves psychotherapy aimed at uncovering and working through the underlying cause of the behavior. The course of paraphilia is usually chronic in nature and may require both the application of psychotherapeutic techniques and drug therapy.

Women's Health