FUTURE WORK
Since EEG evidence is what has been cited in the past, EEG is the logical
technique with which to begin evaluating the case for a link between abnormal
temporal-lobe activity and paraphilias. However, it is certainly not the
be-all and end-all. It has a low yield--even in independently identified cases
of epilepsy in which activation procedures are employed, EEG spikes are
detected in only about half of the patients. A functional imaging study of
paraphiliacs would be an interesting complement to EEG study. In addition,
since serotonin is implicated in the paraphilias, it would be interesting to
measure platelet serotonin uptake. Current reports suggest that this is
elevated in OCD patients. Finally, since the paraphilias can be viewed as
disorders of impulse control, a trial of carbamazepine is warranted. Elphick
[1989] reports that carbamazepine therapy is effective against symptoms of
episodic dyscontrol, most notably in bipolar and schizoaffective
disorders.
References