Cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions for problematic pornography use: a scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Problematic pornography use (PPU) is linked to distress and relationship issues.
• Existing psychotherapeutic interventions for PPU lack a standardized, evidence-based protocol.
• Growing interest in understanding and treating PPU necessitates a review of current approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and synthesize intervention protocols based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for PPU.
• To review literature published between 2019 and 2024 on CBT-based PPU treatments.
• To provide an overview of current CBT-based strategies for addressing problematic pornography use.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases.
• Inclusion of empirical studies on CBT-based PPU protocols published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish (2019-2024).
• Double-blind screening by two independent reviewers to ensure study selection rigor.

Main Results:

• Eleven studies met inclusion criteria, revealing diverse CBT-based protocols (CBT alone, ACT, mindfulness, hybrid).
• Interventions focused on emotional regulation, cognitive restructuring, craving management, and relapse prevention.
• Combined CBT approaches showed larger effect sizes, but high dropout rates were noted, especially in self-guided interventions.

Conclusions:

• Current CBT-based PPU treatment protocols lack standardization and methodological rigor.
• Further research requires consensus on diagnostic criteria, therapeutic goals, and outcome measures.
• Randomized clinical trials integrating mental and sexual health are needed to advance PPU treatment.