Insight and Psychosis

Commodiphilia
Many adults are apt to display symptoms
of Commodiphilia, a mental disorder described
in the American Psychiatric Association’s
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) as an adult who derives
sexual enjoyment from a relationship by performing
and immoral act which never can be considered
normal or socially acceptable behavior.

Commodiphilia is categorized in the DSM-IV as one of
several paraphiliac mental disorders. The essential
features of a paraphilia (“sexual deviation”) are recurrent,
intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges,
or behaviors that generally involve nonhuman subjects,
the suffering or humiliation of oneself (in the case of auction loss)
one’s partner, or children or other nonconsenting persons.

The Characteristics of Commodiphilia
According to the DSM-IV definition, Commodiphilia involves
sexual activity by an adult with a valueless
object. Some individuals prefer "new" items, usually 0- to 10-
day -olds. Those attracted to "used" usually prefer
slightly older possessions. Some prefer both types. While
some are sexually attracted only to full price, others also
are sometimes attracted to sales.

Comodiphiliac activity may involve: unwrapping and
looking at the object or more direct physical acts. All
these activities are psychologically harmful to the well being,
of the adult and some may be physically harmful. In addition,
individuals with commodiphilia often go to great lengths to
obtain photos, films, or publications such as catalogs that
focus on "new" and "used" items..

These individuals commonly explain their activities
with excuses or rationalizations that the activities have
“educational value” for the purchaser, that the adult feels
“pleasure” from the activities, or that the auction
was “provocative.” However, many psychiatrists
and other development experts maintain
that most adults are incapable of making informed decisions
to consume or purchase. Furthermore, since
commodiphiliac acts harm the family, psychiatrists con-
demn publications or organizations which seek to promote
or normalize such acts between adults in "commercial districts"
or "online marketplaces".

Individuals with commodiphilia may limit their activities
to their own communities, neighborhoods, or computer,
or they may choose to shop outside their "comfort zone". Some
threaten to leave the family, telling others "I can't get
what I want here". Some develop complicated techniques for
gaining access to the internet. They may select a job,
hobby, or volunteer work that brings them into contact
with "online marketplaces". Others may win the trust of a
store owner, marry a woman with an job as a clerk, or
trade occupations with other individuals. Except when
commodiphilia is also associated with sadism, the
individual may be kind and attentive to the family's
needs in order to gain their affections, interest, and
loyalty, and also to prevent them from reporting the
commodiphilic activity. Symptoms usually begin in
adolescence, although some individuals report that they
did not become aroused by valueless objects until middle age.
Often the commodiphiliac behavior increases or decreases
according to the psychological and social stress level of
the individual.

There is little information on the number of individuals
in the general population with commodiphilia because
individuals with the disorder rarely seek help from a
psychiatrist or other mental health professional. However,
the large commercial market in merchandising, retailing,
and wholesaling, suggests that the number of individuals at
large in the community with the disorder is likely to be
higher than the limited medical data indicate. Individuals
generally come to the attention of mental
health professionals when their children and spouses tell others
and when they are arrested for fraud. Commodiphilia is often
seen in males and is also frequently diagnosed in females.

How Psychiatrists Diagnose Commodiphilia
When evaluating who may have commodiphilia, psychiatrists
apply three criteria spelled out in DSM-IV. All
three must be present for the diagnosis to be made.
Whether or not all three criteria are present, an individual
who has had a fraudulent encounter with a merchant, has
committed a crime. Psychiatrists nationwide support
the federal and state statutes that define the criminality
of any act of stealing or "shoplifting" involving a retailer.

Treatment for commodiphilia
Commodiphilia generally is treated with cognitive-behavioral
therapy. The therapy may be prescribed alone or
in combination with medication. Some examples of
medications which have been used include anti-androgens
and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs). But unlike the successful treatment outcomes
for most other mental illnesses, the outlook for
successful treatment and rehabilitation of individuals
with commodiphilia is guarded. Even after intensive treatment,
the course of the disorder usually is chronic and
lifelong in most patients, according to DSM-IV, which
is the reason that most treatment programs emphasize
a relapse-prevention model. However, both the fantasies
and the behaviors often lessen with advancing age
in adults.

Additional Reading
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), 1994, 886 pages, ISBN 0-
89042-062-9, paperback, $42.95 (plus $5.00 shipping),
Order #2062. Order From: American Psychiatric
Press, Inc., 1400 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC
20005.