just because it's bound to be talked about...sex addiction isn't in the DSM-5

[HereSince1628]

Committee said N.O. to it's inclusion.

But, yes, there is a recent study (http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/24/study-supports-sex-addiction-as-a-diagnosis-worthy-disorder/) that hypersexuality elements contributed to distinguishing 'sex addicts' from other persons.

Just say'n.

[PoliticAverse]

1. NY Magazine article on the issue...

http://nymag.com/thecut/2013/05/too-much-or-too-little-dsm-vs-gray-area-on-sex.html

[HereSince1628]

2. Yes

Sex is a very popular topic and there are a bunch of pop press articles on the topic in the past handful of weeks

[TM99]

5. A single study of 20 people

is now all that is needed to include a new 'diagnosis' in the DSM?

This is one of the main reasons why I no longer use it.

Compulsions are compulsions. Making a new 'addiction' will be abused, but hey it will be good business for the addiction industry. I have worked in one of the largest and most expensive treatment centers in the US. There is a LOT of money to be made for the board and share-holders as long as addictions are not curable and new ones are 'created'.

[cbayer]

3. Imo, it falls in the spectrum of other compulsive disorders

and is most likely to respond to the same kind of treatment.

Continuing a behavior despite significant personal consequences is most likely due to a compulsion....

and quite likely to ruin one's life.

[HereSince1628]

6. I think discussion of hypersexuality is complicated

I don't claim to have a handle on that.

Among other things, there seems to be varying points of view about how the role of differing motivations and the quest for gratification from the behaviors divide behavioral disorders into different groupings. One might think nuance in diagnosis would be a good thing, but social judgment/social tolerance tends to divide strongly on the values of such nuance.

Compulsions are spoken of as drives to reduce anxiety, impulsivity is spoken of as response to arousal. It seems some professionals treat these as diacritically opposed and some view them as components blended to different degree. With respect to culpability compulsions are viewed as being very difficult to rein in or beyond conscious control, while impulsive behaviors are spoken of as being void of any forethought of consequences and free of effort to control (the acts are thoughtless and reckless).

[cbayer]

7. I agree that it is complicated.

But I find it easiest to place it in the realm of compulsion. An overwhelming impulse to do something that is temporarily gratified by doing it only to return and is pursued despite significant negative consequences.

I don't think compulsions are drives to reduce anxiety. I think they are drives that produce anxiety - overwhelming anxiety - which is relieved by giving in to them, at least temporarily.

Impulsive behavior is different and can be much more readily controlled.

Some impulsive in my elected officials is ok. Serious compulsions, otoh, is much less acceptable as those will drive people to make some really horrible decisions without regard to the consequences.

[olddots]

4. I can understand why the DSM-5 doesn't have that as a seperate heading .

it's to generalized .