The DSM Diagnostic Criteria for Fetishism
Submitted on Thursday, 1 October 2009
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Abstract The historical definitions of sexual Fetishism are reviewed. Prior to the advent of DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association,
1987), Fetishism was typically operationally described as persistent preferential sexual arousal in association with non-living
objects, an over-inclusive focus on (typically non-sexual) body parts (e.g., feet, hands) and body secretions. In the DSM-III-R,
Partialism, an “exclusive focus on part of the body,” was cleaved from Fetishism and added to the Paraphilia Not Otherwise
Specified category. The current literature reviewed suggests that Partialism and Fetishism are related, can be co-associated,
and are non-exclusive domains of sexual behavior. The author suggests that since the advent and elaboration of the clinical
significance criterion (Criterion B) for designating a psychiatric disorder in DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), a diagnostic distinction between Partialism and Fetishism is no longer clinically meaningful or necessary. It is recommended
that the diagnostic Criterion A for Fetishism be modified to reflect the reintegration of Partialism and that a fetishistic
focus on non-sexual body parts be a specifier of Fetishism.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-009-9558-7
- Authors
- Martin P. Kafka, McLean Hospital Department of Psychiatry 115 Mill Street Belmont MA 02478 USA
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002
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