Lawyer in Cosby case draws attention to unusual sex disorder

LAS VEGAS SUN

Lawyer in Cosby case draws attention to unusual sex disorder

July 9, 2015 – The latest in the Bill Cosby case has drawn attention to an unusual condition. A lawyer for one of the women who accused the comedian of sex assault raised the possibility that he might have the little-known condition called somnophilia.

What exactly is it? The simple explanation: "being aroused by the idea of having sex with someone sleeping," whether actual sexual contact occurs or not, said Dr. Michael First, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center. To be clear: As far as is known, Cosby has not been diagnosed with this or any other psychological disorder. First has not treated the comedian, has no direct knowledge of him, and just discussed somnophilia in general.