Neil Buhrich

Frequency of Presentation of Anorexia Nervosa in Malaysia

Primary anorexia nervosa appears to be a very rare condition in Malaysia, especially amongst Malays compared to Chinese and Indians. The reasons for the racial differences and the apparent infrequency of the condition are discussed.

The Association of Erotic Piercing with Homosexuality, Sadomasochism, Bondage, Fetishism, and Tattoos

Sexual deviations of subscribers advertising in the dalliance columns of Gauntlet, a magazine published for those with an erotic interest in piercing, were examined. There appeared to be a strong association between erotic piercing and homosexuality, sadomasochism, bondage, fetishism, and tattoos. Males advertised 25 times more frequently than females.

Significance of Tattoos in Male Psychiatric Patients

The study investigated the social background and current social stability of 45 tattooed males. Tattooed subjects compared to non-tattooed controls were more likely to report leaving home and school early, to report spending a period in a boys institution and in prison, and showed greater current instability with regard to accommodation and employment. Tattoos were significantly associated with a current diagnosis of personality disorder and alcoholism and past treatment for drug abuse and parasuicide.

Comparison of transvestism in australia and america

Information concerning gender identity, sexual orientation, cross-dressing behavior, fetishism, and bondage was obtained from a questionnaire which was posted to members of two transvestite clubs, one in the United States and one in Australia. This study reports the responses of 136 American and 86 Australian self-designated transvestites who reported a period of fetishism to womens clothes at some stage of development. Characteristics of transvestism of subjects in both countries were remarkably similar: all were male, almost half the subjects first crossdressed in prepuberty, and in the large majority cross-dressing was well established by late adolescence; intense fetishism was usually experienced during adolescence but waned in later years; in almost a quarter of subjects fetishism ceased, although the desire to cross-dress continued; in many subjects transvestism was associated with fantasies of bondage, usually of the subjects bound while cross-dressed; sexual orientation was predominantly or exclusively heterosexual in more than three-quarters of the subjects. Subjects were categorized into two groups. One group, termed nuclear transvestites, were satisfied with cross-dressing. The second group, termed marginal transvestites, desired feminization by hormone ingestion or by surgical intervention. Marginal compared to nuclear transvesites reported significantly stronger feminine gender identity and tended to report a stronger interest in the homosexual direction. The differences appeared to be present from childhood. No significant differences were found between the nuclear and marginal transvestites with regard to characteristics of fetishism, bondage, and cross-dressing except that in the American group marginal transvestites currently cross-dressed more frequently than did nuclear transvestites.

Parental Relationships during Childhood in Homosexuality, Transvestism and Transsexualism*

The nature of the relationships of 29 male homosexuals, 34 male transvestites and 29 male transsexuals with their parents, during childhood, was assessed on the basis of the subjects reports, and on their responses to two tests, namely the Childhood Family Relationship test and a Semantic Differential. If the subjects reports are valid significantly more mothers of transvestite and transsexual subjects hoped for a girl prior to the subjects birth. During childhood there was a trend for homosexual, transvestite and transsexual subjects to report that their fathers lacked interest in them or were absent from home. There was little evidence to support the view that homosexual, transvestite or transsexual subjects had pathological relationships with their mother. Intrafamilial childhood environmental factors reported by homosexuals, transvestites and transsexuals appear to be non-specific.

Bromo-DMA: The Australasian Hallucinogen?

If the frequency of seizures by police of hallucinogens reflects the frequency with which various hallucinogens are ingested in Australasia, most toxic states resulting from hallucinogen abuse are due to Bromo-DMA and not to LSD as is commonly reported by the subjects. Two cases of intoxication with the new hallucinogen, Bromo-DMA, are reported. Both recovered within 24 hours following treatment with haloperidol.

Preadult feminine behaviors of male transvestites.

Feminine behaviors during the childhood and adolescence of volunteer male transvestites who had shown a period of fetishism were investigated. The transvestites were categorized into two groups. Twenty who were satisfied with cross-dressing were termed nuclear transvestites, and 14 who desired at least a partial feminization were termed marginal transvestites. It was found that during their preadult years marginal transvestites showed significantly more feminine behaviors than nuclear transvestites, and both transvestite groups reported significantly more feminine behaviors than “normal” controls.

Tests of gender feelings and behavior in homosexuality, transvestism and transsexualism

Categorized 64 male transsexual and transvestite Ss into two groups on the basis of the strength of their feminine gender identity. The two groups were compared to a homosexual group and a control group on four tests designed to measure gender feelings and behavior, namely: the California Personality Inventory Femininity Scale, the Draw-A-Person test, the Franck Drawing Completion test, and the Information and Vocabulary subtests of the WAIS. It was found that the CPI-Fe scale and DAP test significantly correlate with the degree of feminine gender identity reported by the Ss. However, the two tests appear to measure different aspects of gender feelings and behavior in some Ss.

Psychological adjustment in transvestism and transsexualism.

Abstract Thirty-four transvestites who had shown fetishistic arousal in association with cross-dressing were categorized into two groups on the intensity of feminine gender identity. The two transvestite groups were compared to a group of 24 non-fetishistic transsexuals who sought a full sex change operation. Ss in all three groups reported greater current psychological stress and scored higher on neuroticism and introversion than Ss in a normal population. A large proportion of Ss in the three groups had previously sought psychiatric help. The degree of psychological maladjustment was not related to the intensity of feminine gender identity.

Significance of tattooes in narcotic abusers.

Social aspects of tattooed compared to non-tattooed narcotic addicts attending a methadone maintenance programme were investigated. It was found that those who were tattooed reported greater current social instability and a more deprived background compared to those without tattooes. None of the tattooes specifically identified the subjects as belonging to the drug scene nor could the age at which the subject was first tattooed be used to predict subsequent drug abuse. The presence of tattooes was unrelated to the current dose of methadone and to the duration of attendance on the methadone programme.