Paraphilic disorders are defined as intense, recurrent, sexually arousing fantasies and behaviors that distress and involve inanimate objects, children, and nonconsenting adults. These can also include suffering the humiliation of oneself or a partner with the potential to cause harm (Zakhari, 2021). This paper will discuss paraphilic disorders, the controversies surrounding the disorder, professional beliefs about the disorder, and strategies for maintaining therapeutic relationships with patients with the disorder. These behaviors also include sex with excrements, animals, and corpses.
Controversies Surrounding the Disorder
The main controversy about paraphilic disorders is that individuals can seriously impair reciprocal and affectionate sexual activity capacity (Zakhari, 2021). The partners of individuals with the disorders may feel like objects since they are unimportant in the sexual relationship (MDedge, 2020). The disorder is controversial because it mainly involves fantasies of abusing a helpless individual (Buchanan, 2020). For instance, paraphiliacs have fantasies about abusing a person who is drunk, asleep or unconscious, or urinating or defecating on their partners. Some individuals get aroused by spying on others and having sex, violating privacy.
Professional Beliefs about the Disorder
Studies indicate that paraphilic behavior may be learned. Paraphilia is more common in men than women and often begins between 8-and 12 years. The individuals often have underlying mental disorders. Paraphilia is an emotional disorder defined by sexually arousing urges and behaviors that have been recurrent and intense for more than six months. These often lead to significant distress and interfere with important areas of functioning.
While the condition is not innately pathological, the disorder can evolve if paraphilia invokes harm, distress, or functional impairment in the lives of the affected individuals (MDedge, 2020). The DSM-IV lists paraphilia as including conditions such as pedophilia, voyeurism, exhibitionism, sexual masochism, fetishism, frotteurism, sexual sadism, and transvestic fetishism. Paraphilic disorders are thought to be caused by cognitive, neurobiological, and interpersonal processes.
Strategies For Maintain the Therapeutic Relationship with Patients
To maintain a therapeutic relationship with the patients, developing a safe care environment is important. This will ensure the patient is comfortable opening up about their issues (Buchanan, 2020). They will also be able to trust that the clinical will uphold their privacy and provide them with the best solutions for their situation. Since there is a lot of shyness and controversy around the issues, likely, the patient may not be comfortable speaking about the issue (Zakhari, 2021).
Therefore, it is essential to listen to the patient without judging. It is also essential to develop professional boundaries in therapy (MDedge, 2020). It will ensure that the patients can discuss their issues to get help, medication, and coping strategies. Clinicians should consistently demonstrate empathy for therapeutic relationships. Empathy ensures the healthcare provider can recognize and understand the patient’s situation.
Ethical and Legal Considerations
Informed consent is a critical ethical consideration. It ensures that the patient understands the treatment course and is willing to adhere to all the recommended treatment processes. Clinicians also have an ethical and legal obligation to protect the privacy and confidentiality of patients (Buchanan, 2020). Patients need to know that their information will not be shared with third parties without their consent. The ethical principle of beneficence should also be upheld. The healthcare provider needs to act in the patient’s best interest at all times.
Personality and Paraphilic Disorders Week 7 NRNP 6675 References
Buchanan, N. T. (2020, April 13). Lecture 14 part 3: Paraphilic disorders [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykkMo9t0bxs
MDedge. (2020, January 22). Personality disorders with Dr. Frank Yeomans [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESQIDslCX_s
Zakhari, R. (2021). The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification review manual. Springer Publishing Company.
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