History A 26-year-old carpet fitter presents to the emergency department has become embroiled in a fight. He says that a woman’s boyfriend hit out at him for no reason. However, the paramedics report that the man had apparently ‘flashed at the girlfriend and may have been masturbating’. Her boyfriend had sought to find out what was happening and a fight had started. The patient insists that he did not do anything inappropriate.
When asked directly how he explains the other versions of events he finally acknowledges that perhaps he had accidentally exposed his genitals. He then insists that this has never happened before, but when he is told that the police are waiting to interview him, he confesses he has been cautioned once before. He then states that he feels that he is not in control of himself and feels compelled to expose himself. He describes a tension that builds up inside him…
