Addictive Sexual Behaviors - Addictive Sexual Disorders

Written by Jennifer P. Schneider, MD, PhD, and Richard Irons, MD

Conclusion
Addictive sexual disorders have distinct parallels with other addictive disorders. They commonly coexist with substance-related disorders, may themselves have features associated with addiction, and may respond to an addiction model of treatment and therapy. Unrecognized and untreated symptoms of these sexual disorders are significant factors that lead to a return to substance use in substance-related disorders. Compulsive sexual behavior has significantly contributed to the growth of the current epidemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A more detailed discussion of diagnostic and treatment issues and resources may be found in our chapter in a recently published addiction psychiatry textbook.5

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References

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Carnes PJ. Don't Call it Love: Recovery from Sexual Addiction. New York, NY: Bantam Books. 1991; 35:42-44.

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Schneider J, Irons R. Treatment of gambling, eating, and sex addictions. In: Miller NS, Gold MS, Smith DE, eds. Manual of Therapeutics for Addictions. New York, NY: John Wiley Sons. 1997:225-245.

Irons RR, Schneider JP. Addictive sexual disorders. In: Miller NS, ed. Principles and Practice of Addictions in Psychiatry. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 1997:441-457.

Carnes P, Nonemaker D, Skilling N. Gender differences in normal and sexually addicted populations. Am J Prev Psychiatr Neurol. 1991;3:16-23.
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Irons RR, Schneider JP. Sexual addiction: significant factor in sexual exploitation by health care professionals. Sexual Addiction Compulsivity. 1994;1:198-214.

Schneider JP, Schneider BH. Sex, Lies, and Forgiveness: Couples Speak on Healing from Sex Addiction. Center City, Minn: Hazelden Educational Materials; 1991:17.

Schneider JP. How to recognize the signs of sexual addiction. Postgrad Med. 1991;90:171-182.

Irons RR. Sexually addicted professionals: contractual provisions for re-entry. American Journal of Preventive Psychiatry Neurology. 1991;307:57-59.

Carnes, PJ. Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction. Minneapolis, Minn: CompCare Publications; 1983.

Schneider JP. Back From Betrayal: Recovering From His Affairs. New York, NY: Ballantine;1988.

Earle R, Crow G. Lonely All the Time. New York, NY: Pocket Books;1989.

next: Four Perspectives on Sex Problems