Sex addiction 101: Empirical support, treatment considerations, and future directions

Abstract

Sex addiction prevalence is estimated between 3% and 10%. There are multiple pathways to its development including biological predispositions, trauma and attachment issues, comorbid conditions, among others. Although controversy still surrounds sex addiction's conceptualization, diagnosis, and treatment, some approaches to treatment have shown promise, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Empirical support, clinical implications, and future directions are discussed.