Use of Relaxation in the Short-Term Treatment of Fetishistic Behavior: An Exploratory Case Study

Abstract

An 8-year-old boy was treated for inappropriate and excessive sexual response in the presence of barefoot women. The boy also suffered from phenylketonuria (PKU) resulting in mild to moderate mental retardation and hyperactivity. Relaxation training was used for 1 week of intensive training, followed by approximately 6 months training via tape recordings in the patient's home. A significant decrease was noted in the target behaviors at the end of the week. At 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-up, the behavior was reported to be virtually eliminated.