Abuse of psychotherapy: psychotherapist-patient intimacy.

An increasing number of reports in the last few decades suggest a certain breach of psychotherapist-patient fiduciary relationships in the form of sexual intimacy rationalized as 'genuine love, expressed in both word and deed' in a context of social-moral permissiveness. Around 3.1% female to 13.7% male therapists appear to engage in some form of intimacy; 4.9% psychiatric residents have acknowledged sexual interaction with supervisors. Regulations and laws are being enacted in various jurisdictions, reducing concerns on confidentiality breach in reporting offenders. Administrative, civil and criminal options are offered to the victims of psychotherapists' sexual misconduct.