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Should compulsive sexual behavior be considered an addiction?
Shane W Kraus1,2, Valerie Voon3, Marc N Potenza2,4
1VISN 1 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|February 20, 2016
Summary
Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) shows similarities to substance addiction, with overlapping brain mechanisms and potential treatments. However, significant knowledge gaps remain, complicating its classification as a behavioral addiction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) is increasingly recognized for its potential parallels with substance use disorders.
- Understanding the classification of CSB as a behavioral addiction requires a comprehensive review of existing evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the evidence supporting the classification of compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) as a non-substance or 'behavioral' addiction.
- To compare the characteristics of CSB with established substance and gambling addictions.
Main Methods:
- A multidisciplinary review of data from epidemiological, phenomenological, clinical, and biological domains.
- Comparative analysis of CSB data against findings from substance use disorders and gambling addiction research.
Main Results:
- Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) exhibits overlapping features with substance use disorders, including shared neurotransmitter systems and similar neuroimaging findings related to craving and attentional biases.
- Potential for similar pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions for CSB and substance addictions was identified.
- Significant gaps in current knowledge were noted, hindering definitive classification.
Conclusions:
- While evidence suggests similarities between compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) and substance addictions, substantial knowledge gaps persist.
- Further research is necessary to clarify the precise classification of CSB within addiction frameworks.
- The potential for shared treatment modalities warrants continued investigation.
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