Treatment of Child Gratification Disorder (2024)

Abstract

Key Words: Self-gratification, Pediatric, Infantile, Masturbation, Gratification Treatment

Introduction

Infantile and pediatric self-gratification is a benign phenomenon. Gratification disorder, also known as “infantile masturbation” or “benign idiopathic infantile dyskinesia,” comprises a group of self-stimulatory behaviors with a tendency to form a habit (1-4). These movements are often considered “disorders” because they are normal behaviors in early childhood (5, 6). Although masturbation or self-stimulation of the genitalia is typical human behavior, little has been published on gratification disorder (masturbation) in early childhood (1, 7). Misdiagnosis is more probable when there is no apparent genital manipulation, and movements are described as staring, shaking, and moving limbs for minutes (1). Misdiagnosis may result in unnecessary workups and antiepileptic treatments (8-11).

Masturbation is a non-openly discussed taboo, especially in African societies. Its occurrence in infancy may lead to procedures to control libido and future sexual behaviors, such as female genital cutting (8, 12). Educating and counseling the parents are often the only suggested measures as gratification in infants is usually benign and tends to resolve spontaneously by two years of age (2, 13). Besides, attempts to stop this behavior are not helpful and may even reinforce it (14). Recurrent daily friction in the perineal area may result in irritation. In addition, parents may know this habit as a disease and feel embarrassed if it occurs in public (15, 16).

Sometimes it may result in useless investigations and non-appropriate therapeutic measures. In addition, in some societies, such behaviors are considered a stigma and may be annoying to parents. This study aimed to perform a systematic review to examine proper treatments and family management based on available literature.

Materials & Methods

This study utilized a systematic literature search based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement (17, 18) (Fig .1). The junior authors (MS, MF, and MR) individually searched electronic databases including Scopus, MEDLINE (from PubMed), and Embase from beginning to 12 May 2021 for related studies. The same search approach was utilized in all electronic databases. The keywords used in the search were [“Self-gratification” AND “treatment”], [“child” AND “masturbation” AND “treatment”], [“Pediatric” AND “masturbation” AND “treatment”], [“infantile” AND “masturbation” AND “treatment”], and [“Benign” AND “Infantile” AND “Dyskinesia” AND “treatment”]. All titles and abstracts were examined to determine the publications' relevance. Exclusion criteria included non-original studies, animal studies, and non-English papers. The authors also checked the reference lists of the included papers or pertinent reviews found in the electronic search. All the three junior authors independently examined the searched sources and participated in all rounds of the review (screening, eligibility, and inclusion). The full texts of all papers meeting the inclusion criteria and any articles in doubt were reviewed. Disagreements about the review were settled after a conversation with the principal author (the first author). All the authors were aware of the journal's titles, authors, or research institutes. All authors assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. The class of evidence was defined following the Levels of Evidence - Wiley Online Library (19) (Appendix 1).

Standard Protocol Approvals, Registrations, and Patient Consent:

The Shiraz University of Medical Sciences’ Institutional Review Board approved this systematic review.

Availability of Data and Material

Data sharing does not apply to this article.

Results

The primary search yielded 241 studies. Five studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria and were used in the systematic review (20-24) (Fig. 1). Table 1 shows a summary of these studies. None of the studies provided a good level of evidence. The summary of related studies indicated that behavioral therapy, escitalopram, and aripiprazole could be possible treatments for this disorder (20-24). Two studies, including one prospective cohort study of 54 patients diagnosed with self-gratification habits, recommended that behavioral therapy could be used for the beneficial management of childhood masturbation (20, 21). Two other studies, as case reports, showed that medications such as escitalopram and aripiprazole are effective for treating child gratification (22, 23). In another case series, two management steps were recommended: 1) reassurance alongside informing the parents about the harmless nature of the activity and 2) managing the anxiety of the children's mothers (24).

Discussion

This systematic review aimed to examine the management of self-gratification or masturbatory habits. Although these paroxysmal behaviors are prevalent among children, their true prevalence is not addressed in scientific papers (20, 21, 23, 24). A study suggested several diagnostic criteria, including 1) onset after the age of three months and before three years, 2) stereotyped episodes of variable duration, 3) vocalizations with quiet grunting, 4) facial flushing with diaphoresis, 5) pressure on the perineum with characteristic posturing of lower extremities, 6) no alteration of consciousness, 7) cessation with distraction, 8) normal examination, and 9) normal laboratory studies (15). Infantile gratification and masturbation should always be considered a differential diagnosis of epilepsy in infants and children, as well as abdominal pain and movement disorders. A detailed history and video recording are encouraged for a correct diagnosis (8, 20, 25, 26). Possible sexual abuse, genital irritation, familial stress, emotional deprivation, and lack of breastfeeding may positively correlate with childhood masturbation and self-gratification behavior (3, 27- 29).

Our systematic review revealed that pediatricians significantly overlook the management of childhood gratification habits. There is no well-designed clinical trial to explore appropriate treatment strategies for childhood gratification habits in the literature. A few existing studies have explored the management of self-gratification habits. This review suggested that despite the benign nature of the entity, due to various religious and cultural taboos, it can cause enormous anxiety and guilty feelings among parents and family members. Therefore, parental education, breastfeeding with tactile stimulus, behavioral therapy, and medications such as escitalopram and aripiprazole, if needed, may help patients with gratification habits (20-24). Even situations that are excluded from medical diagnoses and need no further intervention could be a source of significant distress. “Benign and simply overemphasized form of normal development” could result in severe disarrangement in the mother-child relationship and had to be a target of therapeutic intervention (21). In another study, the authors recommended the instruction of parents to try to interrupt gratification behaviors by distraction and engagement in other activities or plays. Scolding or threatening the infant is not appropriate as efforts to stop the behavior forcefully will only reinforce it and possibly instill a sense of shame or wrong-doing as the infant gets older (13, 30).

Limited literature is available concerning the long-term follow-up of children with gratification. Only one study with a long-term follow-up (mean 7.1 years) showed that four (21%) children developed features suggestive of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

In Conclusion

Although pediatricians are familiar with gratification behaviors, their optimal management is overlooked. Parental education, behavioral therapy, escitalopram, and aripiprazole can be good candidates for future studies of the management of childhood self-gratification behaviors. We need well-designed, randomized controlled trials to obtain the desired evidence on the efficacy of non-medical or medical management of children with these behaviors. Investigators should calculate the appropriate sample size when designing such clinical trials.

Author’s Contribution

Hamid Nemati: Designed and conceptualized the study; analyzed the data; drafted and revised the manuscript. Others: analyzed the data; drafted and revised the manuscript

Conflict of interest

None

Acknowledgment

None

References