Diagnosis and treatment of early childhood masturbation in a case of autism spectrum disorder: a case report

Abstract

While there have been several reports concerning the treatment of inappropriate sexual behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there have been no reports concerning treatment of childhood masturbation in subjects with ASD aged <3 years. We describe a 30-month-old girl referred to our department due to language delay, behavioral problems, and lower-limb contractions. She was diagnosed with ASD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition) criteria and with early childhood masturbation according to the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Escitalopram was added to treatment when behavioral methods proved insufficient to resolve the masturbatory behavior and due to the patient's young age. The masturbatory behavior resolved entirely 3 weeks after the start of escitalopram treatment. We wish to report the first case of masturbation under the age of 3 successfully treated with escitalopram.

Sexual education for adolescent autism spectrum disorders: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

“…In adolescents with ASD the attitude that must be done by parents in dealing with this activity is to provide opportunities, provide privacy and teach children not to do this activity in public. [35][36][37] Our research also reveals the unique unexpected behaviors exhibited by adolescents with ASD while in love such as imagining the opposite sex, expressing feelings with pictures, holding the body of the opposite sex, showing jealousy by hitting. These signs indicate that parents of teenagers with ASD need a good sexual education to be able to direct the behavior as described above following adolescent development.…”

Gratification Disorder Associated With Perineal Irritation in Young Children: Management and Short-Term Outcome

“…2,15 Furthermore, in cases of gratification disorder unresponsive to behavioral management, various psychopharmacological agents such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (escitalopram) and antipsychotics (risperidone, aripiprazole) were recommended in other literatures. [18][19][20] The mechanism of action of these medications was reported to be decrement in dopamine in mesolimbic system through D2 and 5-HT2 receptors. No pharmacotherapeutic intervention was done in the abovementioned cases since all the cases responded significantly to behavioral therapy.…”

Inappropriate sexual behaviors and Mirtazapine treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A case report

“…Because sexual behaviors trouble the caregiver, family and community, treatment become more important. There are studies shown the ineffectiveness of psychoeducation and behavioral interventions [12]. Pharmacological treatments could be preferred in those cases.…”