NCJ Number
225461
Journal
Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: 2008 Pages: 284-310
Date Published
2008
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This article reviews diagnostic issues related to problematic hypersexuality.
Abstract
This article critically reviews the extant literature regarding the conceptualization and diagnosis of problematic hypersexuality. Additionally, this review highlights the utility of a relatively new conceptualization of problematic hypersexuality, the Sexual Desire Disorders model, which accounts for many of the limitations inherent in previous explanatory models. The article notes that there has been considerable debate regarding the conceptualization and diagnosis of individuals exhibiting problematic hypersexuality, and that various terms such as sexual addiction, sexual compulsivity, and sexual impulsivity have been applied based predominantly on the perceived psychopathological mechanisms guiding the behavior. The authors note that unfortunately, such descriptive diversity has inhibited adequate conceptualization and current diagnostic practices, which in turn, have negatively impacted treatment design. The work discusses topics including the defining of problematic hypersexuality; diagnostic assessment and conceptualization; and conceptual perspectives such as sexual addiction, and compulsive and impulsive sexual behavior. Additionally, various diagnostic, conceptual, and treatment implications are discussed in closing. References