Renée Sorrentino, MD

Dr Sorrentino is a clinical assistant professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Articles by Renée Sorrentino, MD

Addressing Sexual Wellness: A Psychiatric Perspective

ByGrace L. Johnson, MD,Alex Rains, MD,Renée Sorrentino, MD

June 11th 2026

Why psychiatrists must talk about sex: sexual dysfunction can exacerbate comorbid psychiatric disorders and contribute to medication nonadherence.

Mandatory Reporting: Child Sexual Exploitation Material

ByAriana Gilani, MD,Renée Sorrentino, MD

February 27th 2026

Here's what clinicians must do when patients admit viewing CSEM: more on state reporting rules, confidentiality limits, and why California is different.

Greek book pedophilia historical perspective

From Perversion to Pathology: A Historical Perspective on Pedophilia

ByKritika Kulkarni, MD,Renée Sorrentino, MD

Published: September 9th 2025 | Updated: September 9th 2025

Explore the evolving perceptions and treatments of sexual deviance, particularly pedophilia, from historical views to modern psychiatric approaches.

Missing White Woman Syndrome: Psychiatrists and Societal Bias

ByCamille A. Tastenhoye, MD,Susan Hatters Friedman, MD, MSt, DFAPA,Nina E. Ross, MD,Renée Sorrentino, MD,Katie Kruse, MD

March 12th 2025

Psychiatry has a lot to learn from the case of Gabby Petito.

Battered women, domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault, Lorena Bobbitt

Battered Woman Syndrome: Is It Enough for a Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Plea?

ByRenée Sorrentino, MD,Meghan Musselman, MD,Lauren Broderick, MD

July 24th 2019

Today, 25 years after the Lorena Bobbitt trial, the case has gained a renewed interest. A look back shows how far we have-and haven’t-come in conceptualizing sexual violence.

Call Me by Your Name: Not Pedophilia, Still Problematic

ByRenée Sorrentino, MD,Jack Turban, MD, MHS

September 8th 2018

The typical trials of an teen working to understand sex and intimacy is compromised by an inappropriate power dynamic in this film, according to the authors.

Sex Addiction: Playing Now in Theaters

ByRoberta Zanzonico, MD,Renée Sorrentino, MD

January 12th 2018

After the recent escalation of sexual scandals, the term "sex addiction" has come to the forefront.

Mini Quiz: Characterizing Sexual Deviation

ByRenée Sorrentino, MD

January 23rd 2017

A quiz on significant changes in DSM-5 nomenclature as they relate to sexual disorders.

DSM-5 and Paraphilias: What Psychiatrists Need to Know

ByRenée Sorrentino, MD

November 28th 2016

Psychiatrists can serve a pivotal role in reducing sexual offender recidivism by treating individuals with paraphilic disorders. Details here.

Psychiatric Spotlight on Child Sexual Abuse

ByAriana Nesbit, MD,Renée Sorrentino, MD

July 15th 2016

The ability to diagnose pedophilia is key to preventing child sexual abuse: it makes possible accurate risk assessment and informed decisions regarding who is safe to work with children-and who is not.

Forensic Issues in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

ByPhillip J. Resnick, MD,Renée Sorrentino, MD

December 1st 2005

Consultation-liaison psychiatrists frequently encounter clinical situations that have legal implications. Competency evaluations, which are the most common legal question in C&L psychiatry, are reviewed in this article. In addition, the authors discuss guardianship, decision making in patients who refuse treatment, confidentiality and the role of the psychiatric consultant in against medical advice discharges.