Mental Health: Transvestic Fetishism - Symptoms of Disorder

The term transvestism was first coined in the early 1900s, but the disorder had been around for a much longer time. In fact, it is mentioned in the Bible. As with most phenomenon, the original term has gone through several iterations in meaning and it continues to be used in a variety of different ways.

Transvestic Fetishism Descriptions

One way the term is used is to describe about a sexual preference for cross-dressing. This use of the term came to be known as being a transvestite. Another, no longer used term for transvestic fetishism is autogynephilia. This term was coined during the 1980's. This term meant becoming aroused by seeing or fantasizing oneself as a woman.

In the Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV (DSM IV), the term is defined as it relates to paraphilias or disorders entailing sexual arousal when exposed to certain objects, situations, or persons. It is important to note, that paraphilias are not related to the typical process of sexual arousal. Paraphalias are characterized by abnormal sexual fetishes which can sometimes be severe. Because of the abnormal behaviors, a person with this disorder suffers much distress as do others associated with them.

Transvestic Fetishism Characteristics

For someone to receive a diagnosis of paraphilia, the sexual fantasies, desires or manifest behaviors must be present for a substantial amount of time and they must get in the way of either typical sexual behavior and/or the ability to function in everyday activities of living. In addition, someone with a diagnosis of paraphilia displays angst and distress about themselves. Typically persons with paraphilia are aware of their symptoms and feel a great deal of stress related to them, they feel like they are unable to control their urges.

Transvestic Fetishism Etiology

Although there has been much discussion and debate about what causes transvestism, there is no consensus. Psychoanalytic proponents feel it is a result of childhood trauma of some sort such as sexual abuse or other impactful sexual encounter. Although these are causes are brought up, they are speculation.

Transvestic Fetishism Prognosis

It is typically felt that with treatment there is a fair chance of change in behavior. The prognosis is complicated by the potential that the underlying cause is an undiagnosed or accepted issue of gender identity. Therapy is typically the process that supports an awareness of early childhood sexual trauma or a latent realization of issues with gender identity or the gender a person typically identifies with.

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