Title:Sexual Addiction or Hypersexual Disorder: Different Terms for the Same Problem? A Review of the Literature
Volume: 20
Issue: 25
Author(s): Laurent Karila, Aline Wery, Aviv Weinstein, Olivier Cottencin, Aymeric Petit, Michel Reynaud and Joel Billieux
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Sexual addiction, sex addict, sexual dependence, impulsivity, compulsive sexual behavior, compulsive sex, sexual compulsion,
excessive sexual behavior, hypersexual, and hypersexuality
Abstract: Sexual addiction, which is also known as hypersexual disorder, has largely been ignored by psychiatrists, even though the
condition causes serious psychosocial problems for many people. A lack of empirical evidence on sexual addiction is the result of the
disease’s complete absence from versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. However, people who were categorized
as having a compulsive, impulsive, addictive sexual disorder or a hypersexual disorder reported having obsessive thoughts and
behaviors as well as sexual fantasies. Existing prevalence rates of sexual addiction-related disorders range from 3% to 6%. Sexual addiction/
hypersexual disorder is used as an umbrella construct to encompass various types of problematic behaviors, including excessive masturbation,
cybersex, pornography use, sexual behavior with consenting adults, telephone sex, strip club visitation, and other behaviors.
The adverse consequences of sexual addiction are similar to the consequences of other addictive disorders. Addictive, somatic and psychiatric
disorders coexist with sexual addiction. In recent years, research on sexual addiction has proliferated, and screening instruments
have increasingly been developed to diagnose or quantify sexual addiction disorders. In our systematic review of the existing measures,
22 questionnaires were identified. As with other behavioral addictions, the appropriate treatment of sexual addiction should combine
pharmacological and psychological approaches. Psychiatric and somatic comorbidities that frequently occur with sexual addiction should
be integrated into the therapeutic process. Group-based treatments should also be attempted.
