“The essential reference work....This is a comprehensive, scholarly, and up-to-date account of the state of the art in both theory and practice....This is a superb and indispensable book for those involved in the field....Essential reading. I will use [it] to inform my assessments and formulations, to guide the advice I give to other agencies, to better consider treatment options, to inform service development, and to prompt and formulate clinical research questions.”

—The British Journal of Psychiatry


“This book is an essential starting point for any forensic practitioner involved in the assessment and treatment of sexual deviance....The editors are frank in their assessment of the current state of the field of sexual deviance and clear in their opinions regarding continuing problems. I sensed the influence of this sober and realistic editorial tone filtering down into the individual chapters, which have a pragmatic orientation....For the less common paraphilias, this book alone will be more than sufficient. For the more common clinical syndromes, such as pedophilia and rape, this book will serve as a useful starting point or a source to turn to for a quick review of up-to-date information. Even for those who have the first edition on the bookshelf, this second edition is recommended. The additional areas covered in this new edition of the book alone will make it worth the purchase price. For those considering this book for the first time, it is highly recommended. The book is a definitive starting point for any review of sexual deviance and paraphilias. I expect that it will replace the first edition as one of the key references in the field of sexual deviance.”

—Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law


“The essential reference work....This is a comprehensive, scholarly, and up-to-date account of the state of the art in both theory and practice....Essential reading.”

—The British Journal of Psychiatry


“A comprehensive overview of the sexual disorders found in the DSM-IV-TR....An important contribution to the sexology and forensic literatures. The text is easy to read for those who are not experienced with this literature and therefore provides an important reference guide to clinicians across a number of professional domains.”

—Sex Roles


“This second edition builds nicely on the solid foundation of its predecessor. The book is comprehensive, with an appreciation of the influence of research, theory, practice, culture, and politics. Positive and negative treatment outcomes, as well as areas in which adequate knowledge is currently lacking, are appropriately cited. Laws and O'Donohue recognize the importance of evidence-based understandings, as opposed to uninformed opinions, bias, or fads. This is a worthwhile text for clinicians, researchers, and students interested in learning more about sexual deviance, its possible causes, and potential treatments.”

—Fred S. Berlin, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Founder, Johns Hopkins Sexual Disorders Clinic, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine


“This second edition is a welcome contribution for many audiences. Suitable as a text for upper-division and graduate courses in psychology, it is also an excellent resource for practicing psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. No other text captures so well the current state of scientific knowledge on the paraphilias, or points so clearly to the gaps in that knowledge. This book should be required reading for anyone treating patients with sexual deviations, evaluating sex offenders, or formulating public policy about sex offenses.”

—Park Dietz, MD, MPH, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine


“Written by a veritable 'who's who' of international experts, this practical and theoretical resource is a 'must read' for anyone interested in human sexual deviancy. Psychopathologists and legal professionals alike will appreciate chapters devoted to understanding, assessing, and treating individuals with paraphilias, including Internet sex offenders. The many citations will benefit scholars, students, and those needing to prepare for courtroom testimony. The editors' candid appraisal of deficiencies in the current knowledge base, and their sound guidance for the next generation of researchers, enhance the volume's credibility. I wish a book like this had been available 30 years ago when I began my career!”

—Jim Peters, criminal prosecutor, Eagle, Idaho


“The word 'classic' is used all too frequently. In the case of Sexual Deviance, though, it is an apt descriptor. In the decade since the original publication of this important work, it has become an indispensable resource for clinicians, researchers, and law enforcement personnel. This second edition follows in the tradition of the original volume by drawing on a rigorous scholarly approach that comprehensively covers all aspects of sexual deviance. This revision has captured the many developments in the field, and will be invaluable for all those who work with sexual offenders.”

—James R. P. Ogloff, JD, PhD, Professor of Clinical Forensic Psychology and Director, Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Monash University, Australia