Compulsive sexual behavior: what to call it, how to treat it?
Like most behaviors, sex can be taken to extremes. It can become excessive, impulsive, obsessive, compulsive, driven, and distressing. Some people suffer with these behavioral problems to the point that it interferes with their daily lives. Unfortunately, clinical sexologists appear unable to reach consensus on what to call or how to treat such sexual behavior. Terms used to describe this phenomenon include hypersexuality, erotomania, nymphomania, satyriasis, and, most recently, sexual addiction and compulsive sexual behavior. The terminology often implies different values, attitudes, and theoretical orientations, and we remain in a quagmire about classification, causes, and treatment. DEBATE OVER CAUSE Disagreement exists as to whether compulsive sexual behavior is an addiction, a psychosexual developmental disorder, an impulse control disorder, a mood disorder, or an obsessive compulsive disorder. Patrick Carnes popularized the concept of compulsive sexual behavior as an addiction. H
