Treatment and recovery for sexual addicts

Over the last 10 years, primary health care practitioners have seen an increase in their case loads of persons with chronic addictive illnesses (e.g., alcohol- and drug-related illnesses, eating disorders, spending addictions). The management of chronic illnesses usually is aimed at restoring a level of health and reinforcing a positive lifestyle so that a person can manage the illness rather than having it cured and its effects eradicated. Practitioners can apply the treatment modalities already being used in the management of chronic and addictive illnesses to treat the most newly emerging addictive illness--sexual addiction. Following the premise that a person needs to be involved with other people who have the illness, treatment and recovery are based on a 12-step recovery-group process. Additionally, sexually addicted clients need medical and emotional therapy. This article focuses on understanding the decision-making process involved in the care of patients with sexual addiction, and presents tools and resources to help in managing this illness.