Sexual Addiction: Designation and Treatment
- 1 December 1992
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy
- Vol. 18 (4) , 303-314
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00926239208412855
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.Keywords
This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit:
- Organic unity theory: the mind-body problem revisitedAmerican Journal of Psychiatry, 1991
- Addiction: definition and implicationsBritish Journal of Addiction, 1990
- The myth of sexual compulsivityThe Journal of Sex Research, 1988
- A motivational model of alcohol use.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1988
- The mislabeling of sexual impulsivityJournal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 1987
- Compulsive Sexual Behavior: Definition of a Problem and an Approach to TreatmentJournal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 1985
- Disease and value: A rejection of the value-neutrality thesisTheoretical Medicine and Bioethics, 1983
- Hypersexuality: Implications for a Theory of DependenceBritish Journal of Addiction to Alcohol & Other Drugs, 1978
- What is disease?Philosophy of Science, 1954