The Paraphilia-Related Disorders: A Proposal for a Unified Classification of Nonparaphilic Hypersexuality Disorders

This article introduces a description of a group of nonparaphilic hypersexual behavior disorders, the paraphilia-related disorders (PRDs). The rationale for the definition and characterization of these behaviors is described and empirical literature supporting the concept of PRDs is reviewed. The common paraphilia-related disorders include compulsive masturbation, protracted promiscuity, pornography dependence, cybersex dependence, telephone sex dependence, severe sexual desire incompatibility and paraphiliarelated disorder not otherwise specified. The comorbid associations and clinical characteristics supporting the evidence that PRDs are indeed related to paraphilic disorders are described. The case is made that the classification of nonparaphilic hypersexual disorders as "paraphilia-related disorders" avoids the confusing use of characterizations such as "addiction" or "compulsivity" when applied to a broad range of sexual appetitive behavior disorders.