Opinion ID: 1448292
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: pedophilia as a mental disease or defect

Text: Petitioner's third argument is that pedophilia cannot constitute a mental disease or defect sufficient for PSRB jurisdiction, because it falls within the ORS 161.295(2) exclusion for abnormalities manifested only by repeated criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct. We disagree. ORS 161.295(2) provides in part: [T]he terms `mental disease or defect' do not include an abnormality manifested only by repeated criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct, nor do they include any abnormality constituting solely a personality disorder. Similarly, the PSRB's rules exclude from the definition of mental disease or defect an abnormality manifested solely by repeated or [sic] criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct or any abnormality constituting solely a personality disorder. OAR 859-10-005(4) (1987). [11] To support his position that pedophilia falls within the criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct exclusion of ORS 161.295(2) and OAR 859-10-005(4)(a) (1987), petitioner cites Meyer's testimony during the PSRB hearing that petitioner's diagnosis of pedophilia is manifested by socially unacceptable behavior [12] and that, if petitioner were to engage in pedophiliac activity, it would be knowing and voluntary. In determining whether pedophilia is a mental disease or defect or whether it fits under the exclusion in ORS 161.295(2), we must ascertain the legislature's intent. We begin by looking at the text and context of the statute. PGE, 317 Or. at 610, 859 P.2d 1143. The text of the statute requires that the abnormality be manifested only by repeated criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct to be excluded from the definition of mental disease or defect (emphasis added). Words of common usage typically are given their ordinary meaning. PGE, 317 Or. at 611, 859 P.2d 1143. The verb to manifest means, as relevant, to show plainly: make palpably evident or certain by showing or displaying. Webster's at 1375 Only means, as relevant, exclusively, solely. Id. at 1577. In other words, ORS 161.295(2) excludes from the definition of mental disease or defect an abnormality evidenced solely by repeated criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct. As discussed above, the DSM-III is the relevant edition of the DSM, which is incorporated into the PSRB's applicable rule. The DSM-III uses a multiaxial evaluation system, and each axis conveys a different class of information. DSM-III at 23. The first two of the five axes comprise the entire classification of mental disorders, as those disorders are addressed in the DSM-III. Ibid. Axis I consists of clinical syndromes and V Codes, [13] while Axis II consists of developmental disorders and personality disorders. Ibid. Neither the statutes nor the rules refer specifically to Axis I or Axis II disorders. The DSM-III establishes the following diagnostic criteria for pedophilia: A. The act or fantasy of engaging in sexual activity with prepubertal children is a repeatedly preferred or exclusive method of achieving sexual excitement. B. If the individual is an adult, the prepubertal children are at least ten years younger than the individual. If the individual is a late adolescent, no precise age difference is required, and clinical judgment must take into account the age difference as well as the sexual maturity of the child. DSM-III at 271-72. Pedophilia is classified as a paraphilia, id. at 267, which is one of the types of psychosexual disorders on Axis I of the DSM-III, id. at 261. In the introduction to the section on Psychosexual Disorders, the DSM-III states that paraphilias are characterized by arousal in response to sexual objects or situations that are not part of normative arousal-activity patterns and that in varying degrees may interfere with the capacity for reciprocal affectionate sexual activity. Ibid. Pedophiliac activity is both criminal [14] and antisocial. [15] However, pedophilia is more than just criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct, because it also has mental or psychological features. As noted above, the DSM-III states that pedophilia is characterized by sexual arousal that is not a normal part of sexual activity. Indeed, under the DSM-III, the essential feature is the act or fantasy of engaging in sexual activity with prepubertal children. Id. at 271 (emphasis added). Because the diagnosis of pedophilia under the DSM-III has mental or psychological features and is not limited to criminal or antisocial conduct, it is not an abnormality manifested only by criminal or antisocial conduct. That being so, pedophilia is a mental disease or defect within the meaning of ORS 161.295(2) and OAR 859-10-005(4)(a) (1987), not excluded on the basis that it is manifested only by repeated criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct.