[Diagnosing and treating paedophilia]

In this review, we discuss paedophilia, which is a persistent and intense sexual interest in prepuberty children. Paedophilia is related to but not identical to sexual offending. Valid and reliable identification of paedophilia is complicated. In Denmark there is a need for intensifying primary and secondary preventive interventions aimed at increasing the number of individuals with paedophilia seeking treatment. Paedophilia has the same or a higher prevalence than other severe psychiatric disorders. Yet, in Denmark, this research field is delayed in comparison to research into other psychiatric disorders.