Frotteuristic Disorder - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Introduction

Frotteuristic disorder is a paraphilic or sexual disorder characterized by recurrent, intense, or otherwise inappropriate sexual urges and fantasies involving rubbing against another person, usually in crowded or public places. According to a recent study, about ten to 14 percent of adult males being treated for paraphilic disorders also showed frotteuristic behaviors. It is sometimes referred to as frotteurism or frotteurism tendencies. Although frotteurism urges are considered pathological, frotteurism itself is not considered a mental illness, nor can it necessarily be used to diagnose some other sexual dysfunction. Instead, the disorder goes hand-in-hand with other mental illnesses like schizophrenia and dissociative disorders.

What Is Frotteuristic Disorder?

Frotteurism is a disorder that involves a person becoming sexually aroused by rubbing or grinding against a nonconsenting person, mostly in public places. The term frotteurism refers to the act of rubbing against someone else without permission. It is not uncommon for people to have this disorder. Research has shown that as many as 30 percent of men have engaged in frotteurism acts at one point in their lives. Frotteurism is different than toucherism, in which a person becomes sexually aroused after a physical touch like genital areas (groping or rubbing their hands on the breasts, buttocks) of a nonconsenting person in a crowd.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Frotteuristic Disorder?

• Indulging in sexual contact with others in a public place.

• Grinding one’s pelvic area or erecting penis against a nonconsenting person.

• Experiencing sexual thoughts affecting daily activities.

• Having sexual fantasies in public places.

• The impulse to inappropriately touch someone else's body with sexual intent.

• Tendencies may cause individuals to engage in behaviors that resemble those of an infant with his mother.

• Some people may have problems with tactile interactions that may occur during normal human erotic or sexual interactions.

What Are the Causes of Frotteuristic Disorder?

Though frotteurism is not well understood, there are several theories about why it happens.

• Some scientists believe that some people may have frotteurism interests from birth.

• While others believe they develop over the years or through experiences of living with people of similar behaviors and interests.

• Childhood trauma may also impact the person's mental health, indulging in frotteurism behaviors.

• Sexual abuse or early childhood anxiety disorders could also affect the person's psychosexual development.

• People have trouble expressing affectionate and sexually intimate behavior due to brain abnormalities that affect their emotional health and reflexes (impulse control).

• Signs of paraphilias are often noticeable before adolescence. People already showing signs of hypersexuality or previously indulging in sexual activities may be at a higher risk of frotteurism.

How to Understand If One Has Frotteuristic Disorder?

One or two incidences may not necessarily indicate frotteuristic disorder. However, repeated sexual urges and inappropriate behavior in public places over six months could suggest the disorder. Seeking consultation from a therapist will help confirm the diagnosis.

Therapists usually start by asking numerous questions to reach a diagnosis and rule out other paraphilic and sexual disorders. The first session usually starts by reviewing medical and psychological history. Sharing information about underlying medical and mental health conditions often helps therapists reach a diagnosis. Counselors also discuss the sexual history, including any unusual behaviors. They would also determine whether or not there are signs of mental health problems.

Who Is Likely to Have Frotteuristic Disorder?

Studies show males (usually 15 to 25 years) are more affected by this disorder than females. Frotteuristic disorder is also seen in socially insecure adults and older men. These men usually target females. Men likely to be victims of this disorder usually have the following:

• Social anxiety.

• Mental health disorders.

• Clinical depression.

• Traumatic brain injury.

• A history of sexual abuse, in general, has been associated with a paraphilic disorder.

• Intellectual disabilities.

• Substance abuse and drug addiction.

• Presence of other or more than one paraphilic disorder, especially exhibitionism and frotteurism.

What Is the Treatment for Frotteuristic Disorder?

• Seeking Help for Frotteurism - Many people who seek treatment for frotteurism have a history of sexual offenses or other related crimes. Recognize habits and behaviors according to signs and symptoms. On self-recognition, one must consult a therapist or a mental health expert to diagnose the disorder and prevent future frotteurism incidences.

• Therapy and Counseling - Psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, psychoanalysis, stress relieving and relaxation therapy, and meditation practices have been successful. However, most therapists usually approach psychotherapy and behavior therapies to treat frotteurism patients first. Failure to treat the disorder with these methods would require medications and isolation until the symptoms disappear.

• Psychotherapy - This method focuses on identifying triggers for frotteurism behavior and developing strategies to:

  • Redirect the thoughts, feelings, and impulses.

  • Control the urges.

  • Supress sexual drive.

• Behavior Therapy - Helps the person to control their impulses and not touch another nonconsenting person.

• Medications - Suppress sexual drive (medications that suppress testosterone levels), anti-anxiety medications, and serotonergic antidepressants such as Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Paroxetine have benefited people with obstructive compulsive disorder. In addition, at times, anti-androgens like GnRH analogs may be given to patients to reduce impulsivity (frequency of frotteuristic disorders) and symptoms of hypersexuality.

What Distinguishes Frotteurism From Toucherism?

Though it is not recognized in DSM-5, toucherism is the same as frotteurism. Frotteurism involves rubbing the pelvic region against someone, whereas toucherism consists in touching the stanger’s intimate parts without consent.

What Are the Complications of Frotteuristic Disorder?

Get help before acting on the desires, as frotteurism is a type of sexual assault. Involving in unwanted physical contact leads to legal consequences, which include arrest. Moreover, the actions could cause significant distress to the people they touch. Frotteurism may also lead to more aggressive sexual behaviors. In addition to this, having frotteurism elevates the likelihood of developing other paraphilias like exhibitionism, which includes a solid urge to show genitals in public.

What Is the Outlook of Frotteuristic Disorder?

Though complete recovery may not be possible for every person with paraphilia, froetturism may be effectively treated. This condition is regarded as being in complete remission if the person has had no urges or episodes for five years.

Conclusion

Frotteurism is not only rare, but it is also seldom reported. When repeat offenses are associated with other sexually deviant behaviors, taking action and recognizing the situation is essential. Failure to do so could get one arrested, as frotteurism is considered an offense. It may or may not require treatment if lacking any clinical impairment, but it requires counseling and behavioral therapy. Victims must be informed of the behaviors so they can take action and seek help to prevent them from happening again.