Paraphilic Disorders and Other Conditions With Risk for Sexual Violence: a Case-control Study

The goal of this case-control study is to compare clinical characteristics in help-seeking individuals with paraphilic disorders or sexsomnia (sexual behaviors during sleep- a diagnosis in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, (DSM-5)), as compared to healthy controls. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

(1a) Is there a difference in experience of violence between the clinical population and healthy controls? Is there a difference between the clinical groups?

(1b) What are the clinical characteristics of these conditions (psychiatric, sociodemographic, and genetic/epigenetic factors)? Does the clinical population differ from healthy controls?

(1c) How are the psychometric properties of the assessment forms (primarily those addressing sexual deviance and compulsive sexuality) in the project?

(1d) How has sexual interest developed over time among patients with paraphilic disorders? (including the person's own description of e.g. triggers and expectations).

Follow-up of clinical population:

(2) What is the typical treatment as usual (TAU) for the patient population? (e.g., average length of care, the percentage of dropouts and what kind of treatment has been given) (3) Are there any factors at baseline (e.g., presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms, age, symptom burden) that predict treatment outcome? (i.e., symptom burden based on self-assessments at follow-up 3, 6 and 12 months from the start of treatment and records in offence registers after 10 years).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Paraphilic Disorders; Sexual Addiction; Parasomnia
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Treatment as usual

Detailed Description

After obtaining a written consent, a physician conducts a structured medical assessment including assessment of psychiatric co-morbidity and medical history.

The participant will thereafter answer questions about socio-demographic factors, sexual preference and relational status and answer questionnaires (see last section). Scales that address sleep are used on indication.

Continued assessment includes a structured evaluation of psychiatric symptoms according to DSM-5 criteria, as well as a psychological assessment focused on the individual's sexual behaviour.

The person will also undergo computerized neuropsychological testing of impulsivity and, if consent has been given, also provide a blood samples.

After the assessment phase (intake) we will evaluate psychiatric diagnoses and make a treatment plan.

To answer question 1d (progress description), we will conduct qualitative interviews with 20 persons with sexual deviations. Those participating in this qualitative interview will provide written consent. The interview will take approximately 60 minutes, will be recorded, transcribed, and analyzed qualitatively.

To answer questions 2 and 3, we will after 3, 6 and 12 months note the type of treatment being given (e.g., Cognitive behavioral therapy or pharmacological), the number of completed visits and the number of interrupted treatments.

Treatment is also followed up with questionnaires.

Questionnaires/assessments used in the project:

The Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA)

Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5)

Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S)

Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale - Screening Tool (RAADS-14).

The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale - Screen (ASRS-v1.1 Part A).

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT).

Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF)

Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS).

The Brief version of the Difficulties in emotional regulation scale (DERS-16)

Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Inventory (BBQ)

Revised University of California (UCLA) Loneliness Scale (RULS)

Perceived Social Support (PSS-14)

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scale (KIVS)

Hypersexual Disorder Current assessment scale (HD:CAS)

Compulsive sexual behavior disorder scale (CSBD-19)

Rape scale

Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI)

Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8)

Susceptibility to Temptation Scale (STS)

Långström Self-assessment of Sexual Interests (LASSIE)

Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)

Karolinska sleep questionnaire (KSQ)

Frotteuristic Disorder: Current Assessment Scale (FD: CAS) Voyeuristic Disorder: Current Assessment Scale (VD: CAS) Exhibitionistic Disorder: Current Assessment Scale (ED: CAS) Coercive Sexual Sadism Disorder: Current Assessment Scale (CSSD: CAS)

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 240

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Josephine Savard; Phone Number: 468123 73 200; Email: josephine.savard@regionstockholm.se

Study Locations

• Sweden
  • Stockholm County
    • Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden, 171 76
      • Recruiting
      • Josephine Savard
      • Contact: Josephine Savard; Phone Number: +46812373200; Email: josephine.savard@regionstockholm.se

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Clinical population: persons seeking treatment at the ANOVA clinic with indication of paraphilic disorder, Compulsive sexual behavior disorder or sexsomnia

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 18 years of age and older
2. Signed informed consent
3. Be able to understand the Swedish language in oral and in writing
4. Meet criteria for paraphilia (sexual deviation) according to DSM-5 (with the exception of pedophilia), compulsive sexual behavior disorder according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), or sexsomnia (sexual act during sleep)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Serious mental disorder such as current psychosis or severe depression that requires immediate handling/treatment.
2. Psychological condition that may endanger the patient's health or the scientific parts of the study, this is assessed by the assessing physician and psychologist (for example, intellectual disability).

Criteria for control persons:

Inclusion criteria

1. Age and sex matched to clinical population
2. Signed informed consent
3. Be able to understand the Swedish language in oral and in writing

Exclusion criteria

1. Serious somatic illness (determined by the study physician).
2. Ongoing substance use syndrome
3. Serious psychiatric illnesses/conditions that require medical attention (determined by the study physician).
4. First-degree relative with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or deceased by suicide.
5. Positive screening for compulsive sexual behavior disorder, paraphilia or sexsomnia.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Clinical cohort; Patients seeking treatment with Paraphilic disorders, compulsive sexual behavior disorder and/or sexsomnia. These will be explored separately within each condition. For procedures, see the Detailed description heading	Behavioral: Treatment as usual; both groups will undergo a psychiatric assessment including interviews, impulsivity tests and fill out questionnaires and leave blood samples. The clinical population will be followed regarding treatment as usual
Healthy controls; Sex- and age-matched controls will be recruited through special research units, and through advertising on e.g. in newspapers, websites and on social media. If the person gives written consent, a structured medical assessment is carried out including assessment of psychiatric co-morbidity and medical history. The control person will then answer the same questionnaires as the research subjects in the clinical population. They also will be tested regarding impulsivity and provide blood samples.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Karolinska interpersonal violence scale	the outcome measure for main question (1a) is the Karolinska interpersonal violence scale (KIVS) that measures exposure to and use of violence. The Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scale contains 4 rating scales assessing exposure to violence and expressed violent behavior in childhood (between 6-14 years of age) and during adult life (15 years or older). The subscales are scored 0-5. (Min = 0, Max= 20). Higher scores indicate more experience of violence.	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Långström Self-assessment Sexual Interests (LASSIE)	A self-assessment scale based on the diagnostic criteria for paraphilic disorders listed in Screening for paraphilic disorders in the DSM-5	At baseline.
Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5)	is a self-assessment of personality-related traits and problems in different domains.	At baseline.
Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment	a self-report questionnaire for adults screening for e.g., behavioural problems. Each item is not directly correlated with a specific scale, instead the assessments recognize patterns of syndromes.	At baseline.
Hypersexual Disorder: Current Assessment Scale (HD:CAS)	Symptoms of hypersexual disorder. Score range is 0-24. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual.
The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale - Self rating (MADRS-S)	Score range is 0-54. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual.
The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS)	Score range is 30-120. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline.
Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder Scale-19 (CSBD-19)	Score range is 19-76. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual.
The Rape questionnaire (Bumpy 1996).	Assessment of cognitive distortions about sex. Score range is 36-144. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual.
Susceptibility to Temptation Scale (STS)	Score range is 11-55. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline.
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)	Score range is 0-28. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual with sexsomnia.
The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)	Score range is 16-80. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual.
Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Inventory (BBQ)	Score range is 0-48. A higher score indicates high quality of life	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual.
Client Satisfaction Scale -8 (CSQ-8)	Score range is 8-32. A higher score indicates higher treatment satisfaction	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual.
Revised University of California (UCLA) Loneliness Scale (RULS)	Score range is 20-80. A higher score indicates more loneliness.	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual.
Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire (KSQ)	Score range is 13-65. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual with sexsomnia.
DNA/epigenetic markers associated with sexual violence	Whole blood (DNA-preparation): investigation of NR3C1, NR3C1, FKBP5, CRHR1, CRHR2, LHB, GNRHR, OXTR, CD38, OPRM1, OPRD1, OPRK1, and epigenetic age.	Collected at baseline.
The Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI)	a 19-item scale constructed to reflect the proposed DSM-5 criteria of hypersexual disorder. Score range is 19-95. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline,and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual.
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)	Total score range 0-40, ≥ 8 indicates harmful use.	At baseline.
The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT)	Total score range 0-44, ≥ 6 indicates harmful use.	At baseline.
The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - short form (CTQ-SF)	Consists of 28 items and measures different aspects of childhood abuse and neglect, each with 5 items. Subscale score range: 5-25. A score above 5 indicate experience of trauma/neglect.	At baseline.
Computerized testing of impulsivity Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT) and Stop Signal Task (SST)	From CANTAB® [Cognitive assessment software]. Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT) Stop Signal Task (SST)	At baseline.
Perceived Social Support: (PSS)	Two subscales, one addressing support from family and the other from friends. Score range is 20-80. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline, and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual.
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)	A self-report screening scale of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) consisting of 18 questions about symptoms of adult ADHD. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale with 0="never" and 4="very often". Part A (items 1-6) has four items of inattention and two items of hyperactivity/impulsivity, and could be used for screening	At baseline.
Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale - Screening Tool (RAADS-14)	The scale consists of 14 items and total score range from 0 to 42. A score of 14 indicate need for further assessment.	At baseline.
Frotteuristic Disorder:Current Assessment Scale (FD: CAS), Voyeuristic Disorder: Current Assessment Scale (VD: CAS), Exhibitionistic Disorder: Current Assessment Scale (ED: CAS), Coercive Sexual Sadism Disorder: Current Assessment Scale (CSSD: CAS)	The questionnaires are all scored 0-32. A higher score indicates more severe problems.	At baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual. (For research question 1c: within 6 years)
Qualitative interview (Research question 1d)	A 60 min interview focusing on the disorder progress from first memory to current state.	within 6 years
Description of treatment as usual (Research question 2)	Registration if the participant is receiving cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacological, psychoeducation, number of fulfilled treatments, average treatment duration.	Registration at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months for each individual
Sociodemographic factors	Age, education level, country of origin, gender identity, relationship status, residence, living condition, offspring, employment, sexual orientation, medical treatment	At baseline (part of clinical evaluation)
Conviction of sexual offence (Research question 3)	Convictions in the Swedish offence register	After 10 years
structured evaluation of psychiatric symptoms	A psychiatric assessment will be conducted using a semi-structured clinical interview routinely applied at the ANOVA clinic. The interview is performed by a specialist in psychiatry and is based on established clinical practice. The assessment covers psychiatric history, current symptoms, functional impairment, and relevant psychosocial factors. Clinical diagnoses will be established according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Diagnostic conclusions are based on the clinician's overall evaluation, integrating information from the interview and, when applicable, additional clinical data.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Region Stockholm
• Collaborators: Umeå University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Josephine Savard, MD, PhD, Anova, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 19, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 19, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 19, 2037

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 3, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 17, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 2, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Sleep Wake Disorders; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological; Behavior, Addictive; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Sexual and Gender Disorders; Behavior; Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder; Parasomnias; Paraphilic Disorders; Therapeutics
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2022-00430-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participants' data that underlie the results of the published article, after deidentification (text, tables, figures and appendices) might be available to researches who provide a methodically sound proposal.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No