Sexual Addiction: Definition, Etiology and Treatment

Abstract

In present day, it is known that addiction does not only derive from a psychoactive substance but also from the pleasure and relief after some behaviors. Sexual addiction, having always been more difficult to accept compared to other behavioral addictions in therapeutic societies, is a psychological disease. It has devastating effects on addicted individuals and the people around them. However, compulsive sexual behavior could be understood and addicted people could be treated accordingly in the 21. century. Studies regarding sexual addiction in the international literature after 2000s have increased but there are almost no studies on the issue in Turkey. This study reviews the related literature comprehensively and presents the data in a determined frame. It explains sexual addiction disorder and describes its phenomenological aspects, characteristics and diagnostic criteria. Next, it gives naming disagreements in the literature, alternative name suggestions, classification problem, symptomatology, consequences and impacts, etiology, and etiological researches. The etiological researches are classified chronologically as 70s and 80s, 90s and 2000s and after. It is aimed to demonstrate the scientific progress and improvement regarding sexual addiction phenomenon. In the light of this information, it is discussed that sexual addiction should be researched in Turkey, and suggestions are made accordingly.

Keywords

• sexual addiction
• compulsive sexual behavior
• hyperseksuality
• non-paraphilic sexual behavior