Final answer:
option a. The fetishism is categorized as a sexual disorder when it leads to significant distress or impaired functioning. Treatment typically involves psychological therapy rather than medical procedures or medication. Healthy relationships can be possible with appropriate therapeutic support.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a sexual fetish causes significant psychological distress or impacts important areas of a person's life, the fetishism is categorized as a sexual disorder. This categorization is aligned with the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which provides criteria for mental health professionals to diagnose and treat various mental conditions.
It's crucial to recognize that treatment options focus on psychological assistance rather than medical procedures to reduce sexual arousal or anti-psychotic medication, unless there's a comorbid psychiatric condition that requires such interventions.
Having a sexual fetish does not automatically mean that an individual will be unable to have healthy relationships in the future. With appropriate psychological therapy, many individuals can learn to manage their fetish in a way that does not cause distress or impair their functioning in life.
The history of the pathologization of sexual and gender identities, such as homosexuality and gender dysphoria, demonstrates the evolution of psychiatric understanding and the importance of removing stigma while providing care.