Complicated, Poorly Understood, Stigmatized, and Insufficiently Studied . . .

Reviews the book, Practical Guide to Paraphilia and Paraphilic Disorders edited by Richard Balon (see record 2017-00172-000). This is a concise and practical guide based on current diagnostic criteria. It was designed for busy clinicians who need to learn some “basics,” so it is clinically oriented. The book is intended as an introduction to the topic. It offers a chapter on each of the eight paraphilias included in DSM–5, including one on the “other specified paraphilic disorders” (e.g., zoophilia and necrophilia). Written mostly by psychiatrists, the content is largely based on the medical model. For clinicians who need more information on paraphilias and paraphilic disorders than is offered in the DSM–5, there are not many resources. This short volume could be a resource, although most readers will be left wanting more, particularly if they are clinicians offering therapeutic services to individuals with paraphilias or related problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)