NCJ Number
219969
Journal
Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: 2007 Pages: 187-206
Date Published
2007
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This review of the medical charts of 85 patients diagnosed with compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) focused on the presence of symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD), which has the common symptoms of instability in relationships and the need for multiple sex partners or multiple relationships.
Abstract
The study found that although a substantial portion of the sample showed considerable impulsivity, there was not sufficient evidence of the unstable and intense interpersonal relationships in the records of the majority of the 85 CSB subjects. The BPD symptoms most often found in the sample were impulsivity and dysphoria (an abnormal feeling of anxiety and discontent). Otherwise, the data did not indicate a relationship between CSB and BPD; however, the data did suggest some possibilities regarding factors in CSB. CSB is typically associated with impulsivity, which in turn can underlie habitual aggression and antisocial acting-out behaviors. The findings showed that 42.4 percent of the sample showed potentially dangerous impulsivity in at least two areas: risky sexual behavior and a general inability to control potentially harmful behaviors. The impulsive behavior tends to be preceded by increasing tension or arousal, followed by pleasure, gratification, or relief. Still, there was no evidence of potentially dangerous impulsivity in multiple areas for over half of the individuals in the sample. This suggests multiple types of CSB or a range of levels of uncontrolled compulsive behavior. There may be two subgroups within CSB, one that is more closely linked with compulsive acting-out behaviors and one that is more closely linked to anxiety and mood disorders that do not require risky sexual or antisocial behaviors for gratification or relief. 3 tables, 27 references, and appendix A