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. 1992 Apr;17(2):155-71.
doi: 10.1093/jmp/17.2.155.

A sex caused inconsistency in DSM-III-R: the definition of mental disorder and the definition of paraphilias

B Gert  1
Affiliations

A sex caused inconsistency in DSM-III-R: the definition of mental disorder and the definition of paraphilias

B Gert. J Med Philos. 1992 Apr.

Abstract

The DSM-III-R definition of mental disorder is inconsistent with the DSM-III-R definition of paraphilias. The former requires the suffering or increased risk of suffering some harm while the latter allows that deviance, by itself, is sufficient to classify a behavioral syndrome as a paraphilia. This inconsistency is particularly clear when examining the DSM-III-R account of a specific paraphilia, Transvestic Fetishism. The author defends the DSM-III-R definition of mental disorder and argues that the DSM-III-R definition of paraphilias should be changed. He recommends that the diagnostic criteria for specific paraphilias, particularly that for Transvestic Fetishism, be changed to make them consistent with the DSM-III-R definition of mental disorder.

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