Sexual Sadism and Masochism

Sexual sadism is characterized by persistent, powerful urges and sexual fantasies involving the inflicting of pain and suffering on others to achieve sexual excitement or gratification (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Moreover, the DSM-IV requires that the patient in question must have for at least six months intense sexual desires, fantasies or behaviours concerning real acts of causing physical or psychological torment or otherwise humiliating another. Additionally, this must cause clinically important distress or impair work, social or personal functioning, or if the patient ha…