A diagnosis is made via a medical professional’s evaluation, based on specific criteria.
Medical professionals diagnose paedophilia when:
- Individuals have had repeated, intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviours involving a child or children (usually aged thirteen (13) years or under).
- Individuals feel greatly distressed or become less able to function well (at work, in their family, or in interactions with friends), or they have acted on their urges.
- Individuals are aged sixteen (16) years old or older and are five (5) or more years older than the child who is the object of the fantasies or behaviours.
- An exception is an older adolescent who has an ongoing relationship with a twelve or thirteen (12 or 13) year-old.
- They have had the condition for six (6) months or more.
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