Which of the following symptoms would most likely lead a practitioner to diagnose a paraphilic disorder?

• A. Having recurrent panic attacks in social situations
• B. Feeling persistent sadness and loss of interest in daily activities
• C. Displaying compulsive hand-washing due to fear of contamination
• D. Experiencing intense sexual arousal from non-consenting individuals or objects over a period of at least six months

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of paraphilic disorders. These are characterized by intense and persistent sexual interests other than sexual interest in genital stimulation or preparatory fondling with phenotypically normal, physically mature, consenting human partners.
2. Step 2: Review the symptoms provided and identify which align with sexual interests or behaviors that are atypical and cause distress or impairment, especially those involving non-consenting individuals or objects.
3. Step 3: Recognize that symptoms like recurrent panic attacks, persistent sadness, or compulsive hand-washing are related to anxiety disorders, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, not paraphilic disorders.
4. Step 4: Focus on the symptom describing intense sexual arousal from non-consenting individuals or objects lasting at least six months, as this matches the diagnostic criteria for paraphilic disorders.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the symptom involving intense sexual arousal from non-consenting individuals or objects over a significant period is the most indicative of a paraphilic disorder diagnosis.