Gratification Disorder

Gratification disorder is also known as ‘Infantile masturbation’. Gratification behaviour in children is quite common. About 90-94% of males and 50-55% females masturbate at some point in their lives(1). It is a kind of masturbating behaviour that is often mistaken for seizure, paroxysmal movement disorder, or abdominal discomfort, as it does not involve manual genital manipulation, and clinical features are very variable.

It occurs among the age of three months and 3 years with 2nd peak incidence throughout adolescence. It is poorly understood as to why it occurs, but it has been linked with pressure,excitement, boredom, and lack of stimulation, genital infection.

AIM: This case report is completed to aid establishing diagnosis of gratification disorder.

Approach: An eight-year old male youngster was brought to Psychiatry department of b.j.health-related college, Civil hospital, Ahmedabad by his parents and was admitted with complaints of Abnormal body movements since 6 months of age. The movements were described as Scissoring of lower limbs, Placing hands on genitals with to-and-fro rubbing movements, related with grunting, hyperventilation and facial flushing. He remained fully conscious and would respond to his name, and he would also eat meals and drink in the course of such episodes. It would last up to 3-four hours.

These episodes were stereotyped and take place in the course of evening time. He had an episode every single 2-3 days. These movements would sometimes quit with physical restraint and distraction. Mother denied any history of sexual abuse. He was delivered at term, and no complications before, in the course of or soon after birth. No delay in development was reported. No loved ones history of seizures or abnormal body movements. Common physical and systemic examinations have been unremarkable. Initially he had been diagnosed to have seizure disorder and treated with antiepileptics elsewhere with no improvement.