What psychological condition is characterized by sexual arousal from cross-dressing?

The psychological condition characterized by sexual arousal from cross-dressing is known as Transvestic Disorder. This condition falls under the category of paraphilic disorders, where individuals derive sexual excitement from behaviors that involve atypical sexual practices. In the case of Transvestic Disorder, the specific focus is on the act of cross-dressing, which is often done for sexual pleasure.

Transvestic Disorder can lead to significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, especially if the individual feels compelled to engage in cross-dressing to fulfill their sexual arousal needs. It is important to distinguish this from other conditions such as Gender Dysphoria, which involves a deep-seated incongruence between an individual's experienced gender and their assigned sex at birth, but does not inherently include sexual arousal from cross-dressing. Body Dysmorphic Disorder focuses on an excessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in physical appearance rather than sexual arousal. Paraphilic Disorder is a broader term that encompasses various paraphilias, including Transvestic Disorder, but does not specifically define the sexual arousal from cross-dressing itself.