DEPRESSION-YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Frotteuristic disorder, or frotteurism, is a rare and poorly researched type of paraphilia. It involves the act of touching or rubbing one’s genitals against another non-consenting individual in a sexual manner, to attain sexual gratification. This activity reviews the evaluation and treatment of this disorder and highlights the interprofessional team’s role in evaluating and treating patients with this condition.

Introduction

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM-5) distinguishes between paraphilia and a paraphilic disorder.

The term paraphilia is defined as “an intense and persistent sexual interest which is not a sexual interest in genital stimulation or preparatory fondling with phenotypically normal, physiologically mature, consenting human partners.”

The term disorder was added specifically to DSM-5 to indicate paraphilic behaviors. The term paraphilic disorder is explained as “a disorder that causes clinically significant distress or impairment to the individual or involved harm or risk to others while gaining sexual gratification.”

Frotteurism is one such disorder that is subsumed within paraphilic disorder; it is one of eight such paraphilias listed in the DSM-V. Frotteurism is the act of touching or rubbing one’s genitals up against a non-consenting person in a sexual manner.[1]

The term frottage is derived from the French word “frotter,” which means “to rub.” Kraft-Ebbing is credited by many for first describing this behavior in detail in the book Psychopathia Sexualis in 1886, while Clifford Allen coined the term frotteurism in the 1960s.

Etiology

The exact etiology is not known, but many theories exist regarding the cause of frotteurism. Psychoanalysts propose that individuals with frotteurism may have unmet needs to rub themselves against the victim and cuddle, like an infant with his mother. Individuals engaging in these behaviors may fantasize that they share an exclusive and caring relationship with their non-consenting victims during the act. Freund and Seto have proposed that these individuals may also have problems with tactile interactions that may occur during normal human erotic or sexual interactions.[2] There has been some research to postulate a biological mechanism, primarily with the monoamine pathway resulting in abnormal sexual behaviors.[3][4]

Though not specific for frotteurism, paraphilias, in general, have been associated with the following additional mental health diagnoses.[5][6]

• Social anxiety
• Traumatic brain injury
• History of sexual abuse, in general, has been associated with a paraphilic disorder
• Intellectual disabilities
• Substance abuse
• Presence of other or more than one paraphilia, especially exhibitionism and frotteurism

Epidemiology

Frotteurism is poorly understood due to its lack of reporting. Some limited research suggests that this behavior has more often been reported in young, adolescent males between 15 and 25 years. One case illustrates the disorder in the setting of a twelve-year-old boy.[7] The exact prevalence is unknown, but a wide prevalence range between 9% to 35% has been reported.[8][9][10][11] Female frottuers are rare. Target victims are mostly female, mostly younger though some studies have suggested older age women.[11]

History and Physical

A comprehensive psychiatric assessment is warranted after the completion of a history and physical exam. Since this disorder is rarely self-reported, these individuals are often mandated by the courts to seek evaluation and treatment. The evaluator needs to be non-judgmental and make attempts to ask open-ended questions to gather as much information as possible. It is important to note that it is not unusual for more than paraphilia to be present in an individual. Often a history of premature ejaculation is noted.

Evaluation

Frotteurism is the act of touching or rubbing one’s genitals up against another person in a sexual manner without their consent, to derive sexual pleasure or reach orgasm. An essential characteristic of this disorder is that this behavior is repetitive.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – V (DSM-5), for a diagnosis of frotteuristic disorder, the following criteria must be met:[1]

1. Over a period of at least six months, recurrent and intense sexual arousal from touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting person, as manifested by fantasies, urges, or behaviors.
2. The individual has acted on these sexual urges with a nonconsenting person, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Specify if:

• In a controlled environment: This specifier is primarily applicable to individuals living in institutional or other settings where opportunities to touch or rub against a nonconsenting person are restricted.
• In full remission: The individual has not acted on the urges with a nonconsenting person, and there has been no distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning for at least five years, while in an uncontrolled environment.
• According to DSM-5, if the individual has not acted on their interest and experiences no distress or impairment, they are considered to have a frotteuristic sexual interest but not frotteuristic disorder.

As part of establishing the diagnosis and excluding other causes, routine laboratory workup, and imaging may be obtained.

Laboratory workup may include:

• The metabolic panel

• Hormone tests:

  • thyroid function tests
  • prolactin
  • luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone
  • testosterone tests.
• If additional sexual deviant behaviors are suspected, nocturnal penile tumescence may be considered in addition to brain scans, as indicated.

Some important points to consider that may help in arriving at a diagnosis:

• The most common form of behavior is rubbing an individual’s genital against the victim’s thighs or buttocks.
• The act is usually conducted in a wide variety of crowded public settings like public transportation, subways, elevators, malls, or other crowded places.
• The behaviors are usually repetitive.
• A majority of the cases are unreported. It has been suggested that frotteurs often do not face legal consequences (rarely arrested), have a large victim base, and are unlikely to serve long sentences. However, no systematic studies have verified these findings.
• The initiators of frotteuristic behaviors are not looking to have any conversation with the victim and are often surprised if they are “caught.”

Treatment / Management

Treatment for frotteurism is usually not sought due to a lack of clinical or functional impairment. Additionally, individuals with frotteuristic disorder rarely seek treatment on their own. It may make individuals uncomfortable, feel ashamed, or guilty about their behaviors while seeking help. This paraphilic disorder often comes to light after being “caught” for sexual assault and mandated to seek treatment by the legal system or are asked to do so by their friends or family members. Since the literature on this topic is sparse, treatment modalities are often generalized for all paraphilic disorders.

A multi-modal approach is recommended, i.e., one which includes individual and family or community participation, in addition to psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions.

Several different therapeutic models, including – psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, psychoanalysis, relaxation therapy, biofeedback, have been explored with some success. Additionally, the clinician needs to be aware of his/her counter-transference during this process.

As pointed earlier, frotteuristic behavior has been associated with several other mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.[6][12] Hence, treatment often involves treating the underlying or comorbid disorder as well. Regarding pharmacological interventions, the approach bifurcates into medications that “suppress” the sexual drive, i.e., by suppressing testosterone and those that “reduce” the sexual drive such as serotonergic antidepressants. Anti-androgens, specifically GnRH analogs, have been used as an evidence-based modality of treatment to reduce impulsivity and hypersexuality in severe cases.[13][14]

Ethical challenges requiring informed consent before administering GnRH analogs must be addressed. Additionally, since impulsive hypersexuality is thought to be a factor in this disorder, certain serotonergic antidepressants such as Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Paroxetine have had modest success in mitigating increased sexual drive and in those who may have comorbid conditions like depression or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD).[7][15][16][17]

Differential Diagnosis

Substance Abuse Disorder: An intoxicated individual using psychostimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine may present with an episode that may mimic frotteurism. If recurrent such episodes continue, a diagnosis of frotteuristic disorder may be considered, in the absence of acute substance intoxication.

Traumatic Brain Injury: Frontal and frontotemporal deficits resulting from a traumatic brain injury can present with a similar lack of inhibition and increased sexual behaviors. However, cognitive deficits are typically present as a result of brain injury.

Conduct disorder and Anti-social personality disorder: A lack of a moral compass, disregard for the law, and societal norms can be important to distinguish from frotteurism. The key distinction is the lack of sexual interest or arousal by touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting individual by someone with a personality disorder.

Additional differential diagnoses may include:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Mood disorders
• Other sexual dysfunction disorders
• Other paraphilic disorders

Prognosis

Since this is a poorly studied disorder, the actual prognosis is unknown. Very few cases are self-reported, and the majority of offenders are discovered via legal processes. There is a dearth of large RCTs or long-term outcome-based studies. Since a significant component of treatment is based on self-report and the individual’s desire to seek help, it is safe to assume that motivated individuals with good community support and actively engaged in treatment may have a better prognosis than those who are not.

Complications

Very little is known about the long-term impact of frotteurism on the initiator or the victim.

If comorbid conditions are considered, this may lead to the development of a frotteuristic disorder, which can cause clinically or functionally significant impairment for the individual. These individuals may suffer from poor self-esteem, severe social anxiety, and guilt. Untreated mental health conditions may cause a further decline in the mental state. Once “caught,” there may be societal stigma and additional legal requirements that follow. For those with severe sexual disorders, mandatory registration to the sex offender registry, regular “check-ins” with the legal system, housing limitations may further complicate the picture.

This may be akin to a traumatic experience for the victim – increased anxiety, hypervigilance, avoiding public transportation, insecurity, and an overall sense of mistrust may occur.

Deterrence and Patient Education

There is no FDA-approved treatment for frotteuristic behaviors. Individuals must be educated and encouraged to seek out psychotherapeutic interventions and medications when necessary. It is important to stress to the patient that managing the underlying or comorbid conditions may also improve outcomes. Stigmatization for the patient is a real problem that must be recognized and addressed by the clinician.

Pearls and Other Issues

Here are some important points to take note of:

1. Frotteurism is a rarely reported paraphilia and may not warrant treatment due to a lack of clinical impairment. However, in the case of Frotteuristic disorder or those with repeat offenses, or an associated history of violent sexual behaviors, the court may mandate treatment. This may also involve assessing the moral responsibility of the crime (of sexual assault) over a nonconsenting individual and thus is considered a criminal activity.
2. The psychiatrist needs to be familiar with this paraphilic disorder, its diagnosis, and treatment. The psychiatrist may need to look at standard actuarial care assessments, as well as sex offender laws for the state.
3. Most treatment options include case reports with relatively small sample sizes. Larger studies, including randomized-controlled trials (RCT’s), may be helpful in a better understanding of this disorder.
4. Victims may be explained that this behavior is considered a sex offense, and charges can be filed. Victims should be educated and encouraged to confront these individuals. Additional sexual deviant behaviors may warrant aggressive intervention, such as a formal entry in the sex offender registry.
5. Ethical challenges regarding forced or coerced therapeutic interventions must be looked at and considered carefully.

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Frotteurism and frotteuristic disorder is frequently under-diagnosed and rarely self-reported, leading to a low level of evidence available. Additionally, these may present with various alternative presentations such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, etc. as noted above. The physician needs to be prudent about identifying these rarely reported symptoms. Since the first contact of many individuals with mental health presentations can be primary care physicians, therapists, nurses, or social workers, making these clinicians aware of the triggering complaints is important. Any questionable or confusing symptomatology must be referred to the specialist physician, i.e., a psychiatrist.

The psychiatrist should be well versed and knowledgeable with appropriate medical interventions to improve outcomes and decrease recidivism on the whole. A forensic psychiatrist (a physician trained in psychiatry and sub-specializes in medico-legal aspects of mental health) may see these individuals more than the regular psychiatrist. Thus, a forensic psychiatrist is in a unique position to evaluate, diagnose, and manage the treatment of individuals with frotteuristic disorder, thus improving outcomes for them by hopefully reducing future sexual offenses.

References

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