Gratification disorder

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Gratification disorder (also known as "infantile masturbation", despite occurring in children as old as 10, or sometimes benign idiopathic infantile dyskinesia) is a form of masturbatory behaviour that has often been mistaken for epilepsy, abdominal pain, and paroxysmal dystonia or dyskinesia.^[1] Little research has been published regarding this early childhood condition. However, most paediatricians agree that masturbation is a normal and common behaviour in young children and should be recognised as such.^[2] Failure to recognise this behaviour can lead to unnecessary and invasive testing. Thus, it should be noted that the use of the word "disorder" is somewhat malapropos, as an inability to experience sexual gratification would constitute sexual aversion disorder.

[edit] Miscellaneous

• The disorder was featured in the episode, Euphoria, Part 2, of the TV series medical drama, House, in which the main protagonist diagnoses the symptoms in a fidgety seven year old girl.

[edit] References