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Pathology98 papers

Necrophilia

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Necrophilia involves sexual attraction or behavior directed towards corpses. This condition is rare and often intersects with broader ethical and legal considerations regarding human remains 8.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical history and behavioral assessments are crucial for diagnosis.
  • No specific diagnostic tests; relies heavily on patient self-reporting and circumstantial evidence 8.
  • Management

  • Psychotherapeutic interventions, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), are recommended.
  • Psychiatric evaluation to address underlying mental health issues.
  • Legal and ethical counseling to navigate societal and legal ramifications 8.
  • Special Populations

  • No specific guidelines provided for pregnancy, pediatrics, elderly, or comorbidities in the given abstracts.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Conduct thorough psychological evaluation to identify underlying mental health conditions contributing to necrophiliac behavior (Evidence: Expert opinion 8).
  • Implement psychotherapeutic approaches, focusing on CBT, to address aberrant sexual interests (Evidence: Expert opinion 8).
  • Provide legal and ethical counseling to patients to understand societal norms and legal consequences (Evidence: Expert opinion 8).
  • References

    1 Jellinek EH. Sarcophilia, cremation and Sir Henry Thompson (1820-1904). Journal of medical biography 2009. link 2 McDermott MB. Obtaining consent for autopsy. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 2003. link 3 Midelfart J, Aase S. The value of autopsy from a clinical point of view. A survey of 250 general practitioners and hospital clinicians in the county of Sør-Trøndelag, Norway. APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica 1998. link 4 Ong BB, Kaur S. Confidentiality and death. The Malaysian journal of pathology 1997. link 5 Davis GJ, Peterson BR. Dilemmas and solutions for the pathologist and clinician encountering religious views of the autopsy. Southern medical journal 1996. link 6 Farrell M. Adelaide Bartlett and the Pimlico mystery. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 1994. link 7 Hutchins GM. Practice guidelines for autopsy pathology. Autopsy performance. Autopsy Committee of the College of American Pathologists. Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine 1994. link 8 Torre C, Varetto L. An exceptional case of necrophilia. The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology 1987. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Sarcophilia, cremation and Sir Henry Thompson (1820-1904).Jellinek EH Journal of medical biography (2009)
    2. [2]
      Obtaining consent for autopsy.McDermott MB BMJ (Clinical research ed.) (2003)
    3. [3]
    4. [4]
      Confidentiality and death.Ong BB, Kaur S The Malaysian journal of pathology (1997)
    5. [5]
    6. [6]
      Adelaide Bartlett and the Pimlico mystery.Farrell M BMJ (Clinical research ed.) (1994)
    7. [7]
    8. [8]
      An exceptional case of necrophilia.Torre C, Varetto L The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology (1987)

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