psychiatric disorders
Sexual Masochism Disorder
Introduction
Sexual masochismis intentional participation in an activity that involves being humiliated, beaten, bound, or otherwise abused to experience sexual excitement.Sexual masochism disorderis diagnosed when a patient experiences recurrent, intense sexual arousal from these activities but also has clinically significant distress or impaired functioning. Sexual masochism is a form of Overview of Paraphilias and Paraphilic Disorders , but most people who have masochistic interests do not meet clinical criteria for a paraphilic disorder, which require that the person's behavior, fantasies, or intense urges result in clinically significant distress or impairment. The condition must also have been present for People with sexual masochism generally openly acknowledge their interest in, or participation in, masochistic sexual activities. The term BDSM (bondage-domination-sadism-masochism) is an encompassing descriptive term that includes sexual masochists who do, or do not, meet clinical criteria for a diagnosis of sexual masochism disorder. Prevalence of sexual masochism disorder is unknown. However, a single report of data from a telephone survey in Australia from 2001 to 2002 found that 2.2% of males and 1.3% of females reported being involved in BDSM behaviors in the previous 12 months ( General reference ). Sadomasochistic fantasies and sexual behavior between consenting adults is very common. Masochistic activity tends to be ritualized and long-standing. For most participants (similar to most other paraphilic interests), the humiliation and beating are simply acted out; participants know that it is a game and carefully avoid actual humiliation or injury, often through the use of a prenegotiated "safe word." However, some masochists increase the severity of their activity with time and may stop using their safe word to protect themselves, which can potentially lead to serious injury or death. For people who engage in masochistic activities, these may be the preferred or exclusive mode of producing sexual excitement. People may act out their masochistic fantasies on themselves—for example, by Binding themselves Piercing their skin Applying electrical shocks Burning themselves Self-suffocation during masturbation ( Autoerotic asphyxiation (asphyxiophilia) ) Or they may seek out a partner who may be a Sexual Sadism Disorder . Activities with a partner may include being Bound Blindfolded Spanked Flagellated (whipped) Humiliated by being urinated or defecated on Forced to cross-dress Coerced into a sexual act Partially asphyxiated, usually at the time of orgasm 