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Addictive sexual behavior
1Cornell University Medical Center.
Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|January 1, 1994
Summary
This study explores addictive sexual behavior in two patients, highlighting its role in managing rejection, low self-esteem, and rage. It suggests a potential link to attention deficit disorders and its function in alleviating depression and anhedonia.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Addictive sexual behavior is characterized by intense, driven actions with mood-elevating effects.
- Psychodynamic interpretations suggest these behaviors serve to counteract feelings of rejection and enhance self-esteem.
- Such behaviors may also function to neutralize intense anger, particularly towards maternal figures.
Observation:
- Two patients with addictive sexual behavior were analyzed.
- Sexual acts were observed to mitigate feelings of rejection, enhance lovability, and boost self-esteem.
- These behaviors also served to neutralize rage toward the mother figure.
Findings:
- One patient's sexual behavior helped manage inner turmoil associated with an underlying attention deficit disorder (ADD).
- A potential link between adult addictive sexual behavior and underlying attention deficit disorders is hypothesized.
- Sexual behaviors functioned as a self-regulatory mechanism to alleviate anhedonia and depression in both patients.
Implications:
- Decreased sexual activity during treatment necessitated adjunctive antidepressant medication.
- The study explores the psychodynamic meaning of antidepressant medication in this context.
- Countertransference attitudes toward patients with addictive sexual behavior are also examined.