The Development, Content Validation, and Pilot Testing of the Paraphilic Interests and Disorders Scale.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Mental Health Assessment

Background:

• Prevalence of paraphilic interests and disorders is understudied due to a lack of standardized assessment tools.
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) offers limited prevalence data for paraphilic disorders.
• Accurate population-based data is crucial for understanding and addressing paraphilic disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a self-report measure, the Paraphilic Interests and Disorders Scale (PIDS).
• To assess the eight paraphilic interests/disorders outlined in the DSM-5 for general population samples.
• To provide a tool for more accurate prevalence estimations of paraphilic disorders.

Main Methods:

• Content validity of the PIDS was established through expert feedback from 22 specialists.
• The PIDS was modified based on expert recommendations.
• The revised PIDS was piloted on 100 individuals from the general population.

Main Results:

• Expert feedback confirmed the content validity of the initial PIDS draft.
• Pilot testing indicated the feasibility of implementing the PIDS in general population samples.
• The PIDS demonstrated limited efficacy in the pilot study, suggesting potential for future development.

Conclusions:

• The Paraphilic Interests and Disorders Scale (PIDS) is a promising new tool for assessing DSM-5 paraphilic interests and disorders.
• Further psychometric validation is required to enhance the reliability and accuracy of the PIDS.
• The PIDS has the potential to facilitate population-based research on understudied paraphilic disorders.