Paraphilic coercive disorder: an unresolved issue.

Abstract

Nineteen years after the publication of DSM-IV, the DSM-5 was published (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). For the fourth time since DSM-III (American Psychiatric Association, 1980), Paraphilic Coercive Disorder (PCD) was excluded from the main body of the DSM as well as from Section III (in the section on Conditions for Further Study). The repeated rejection of PCD from DSM contributes greatly to maintaining unanswered questions regarding this putative condition (e.g., sexual preference vs. disinhibition hypothesis, categorical vs.dimensional structure ofPCD, lackofclear defining criteria). In this Commentary, we will focus on the B criteria that were proposed for PCD and we will look at the observed frequencies of PCD as well as behavioral markers (sexual acts) that may be characteristic of paraphilic sex offenders. We will conclude with our view on the matter.