Sexual Addiction: Designation and Treatment

Abstract

While there is general agreement that the pattern of behavior described as “sexual compulsivity” or “sexual dependency” or “sexual addiction” does exist, considerable controversy surrounds the issue of how this syndrome should be designated. The principle candidates–-compulsivity, dependency, and addiction–-are examined, and addiction is found to be the most suitable term. Addiction is then clearly defined, and diagnostic criteria for addictive disorder are specified. After the definition of and diagnostic criteria for sexual addiction are presented, arguments against the concept of sexual addiction are reviewed and answered. Implications of this concept for treatment are then explored.