Question

What is Pedophilia?

What are the clinical features?

What are the prevalence rates?

Answer 1

1) Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder involving primary or exclusive sexual attraction to children who have not yet reached puberty. Pedophiles are more often men and may be interested in either or both sexes.

2) Clinical features - Pedophilia emerges before or during puberty and remain stable over time. It is self-discovered. Over a minimum of 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual intercourse with a child or children who have not hit puberty (generally age 13 years or younger). The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The person is a minimum of age 16 years and a minimum of 5 years older than the child or children in the first category.

3) The prevalence of the pedophilic disorder is known exactly, but the highest possible prevalence in the male population is theorized to be approximately three to five percent. The prevalence within the female population is assumed to be a little fraction of the prevalence in males.