Sex Addiction

Sex addiction, also referred to as hyperactive sexual desire, is not a listed disorder in the DSM IV. It is marked by excessive sexual desire, but what is "excessive"? There is such a wide variance among individuals in terms of sexual desire (libido), that there is no real agreement on what constitutes excessive. For the most part, the individual must decide.

A perspective for understanding sex addiction is the same as other addictions. The person has a pathological relationship with sex, which acts like a drug. This relationship with sexual acting out becomes more important than family, friends, or job. However, you can't literally be "addicted" to sex, but the behavior is addictive-like. It is not possible to develop a physical dependency on sex. In the DSM IV, the nearest diagnosis is for obsessive disorder. The sexual thought or behavior reduces the anxiety as in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Characteristics

Includes out of control sexual behavior.
Usually heterosexual males who often have multiple addictions.
They are likely to be the victims of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
Most common complaint is excessive sexual desire exhibited in the form of compulsive, repeated infidelity. Patients often concerned that their behaviors are jeopardizing their marriage or relationship.
More commonly reported by spouse or significant other that is "innocent" and is tormented by addictive behaviors.
Usually differing sexual desire in the two partners.
Often related to power and control in the relationship that is being manifested in the sexual area.

Causes

In women, hyper-androgenic (testosterone) states. The male sex hormone, testosterone, is also found in women but at about 1/20th the level as in men. If a woman for some reason produces too much testosterone this can have significant effects on her sex drive. Testosterone is nature's true aphrodisiac.
Temporal lobe lesions, such as Peck's disease, Alzheimers, head trauma, herpes,encephalitis.
Disinhibiting drugs, such as alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy.
Manic states as in bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
Personality Disorders--narcissistic, histrionic, borderline, antisocial
Dissociative Identity Disorder

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