Neurochemical and Hormonal Contributors to Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder

Purpose of Review Compulsive sexual behavior disorder has been recently included in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), and the possible contribution of neurochemical and hormonal factors have been reported. However, relatively little is known concerning the neurobiology underlying this disorder. The aim of this article is to review and discuss published findings in the area. Recent Findings Evidence suggests that the neuroendocrine systems are involved in the pathophysiology of compulsive sexual behavior. The hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis, the hypothalamus-pituitary–gonadal axis, and the oxytocinergic system have been implicated. Summary Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact involvement of neuroendocrine and hormonal systems in compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Prospective longitudinal studies are particularly needed, especially those considering co-occurring psychiatric disorders and obtaining hormonal assessments in experimental circumstances with appropriate control groups.

A meta-analysis of prevalence and risk factors of Internet pornography addiction among adolescents

Review question / Objective: To provide an overview of prevalence and risk factor for Internet pornography addiction in adolescents according to meta-analyses. Condition being studied: Internet pornography addiction：A psychopathic state of being addicted to adult-talking chat rooms and online pornographic literature and videos. Research into the area of addictive sexual behaviors on the Internet began with an inquiry into the various constructs surrounding compulsive sexual behavior. Information sources: For literature on mindfulness practice for adolescent emotional disorders published before December , 20th, 2021, search databases will include Google Scholar, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, the CNKI, the Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, VIP, Wanfang, and Cochrane Library.

Compulsive sexual behavior, religiosity, and spirituality: A systematic review

Background and aims In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the relationship between compulsive sexual behavior (CSB), religiosity, and spirituality. This review summarizes research examining the relationship CSB has with religiosity and spirituality, clarifying how these constructs inform the assessment and treatment of this syndrome. Methods The present paper reviews research published through August 1, 2021, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Only studies providing quantitative analyses were included. Results This review identified 46 articles, subsuming 59 studies, analyzing the relationship between CSB and religiosity or spirituality. Most studies used cross-sectional designs with samples primarily composed of heterosexual White men and women. Generally, the studies found small to moderate positive relationships between religiosity and CSB. Studies considering the mediating or moderating role of moral incongruence identified stronger, indirect relationships between religiosity and problematic pornography use (PPU), a manifestation of CSB. Few studies examined the association between spirituality and CSB, but those that did either reported negative relationships between indicators of spiritual well-being and CSB or positive relationships between CSB and aspects of spiritual struggles. Discussion and conclusions Although research examining CSB and religiosity has flourished, such growth is hampered by cross-sectional samples lacking in diversity. Moral incongruence assists in explaining the relationship between religiosity and PPU, but future research should consider other manifestations of CSB beyond PPU. Attention should also be given to examining other religiosity and spirituality constructs and obtaining more diverse samples in research on CSB, religiosity, and spirituality.

Common Features in Compulsive Sexual Behavior, Substance Use Disorders, Personality, Temperament and Attachment—A Narrative Review

Do addictions share common traits of an “addictive personality” or do different addictions have distinct personality profiles? This narrative review examines the differences in the associations between substance use disorder (SUD) and compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), on the one hand, and personality traits, attachment dispositions, and temperament, on the other hand. We found that both people with a SUD and people with CSBD tended to be more spontaneous, careless, and less reliable, to place self-interest above getting along with others, to show emotional instability and experience negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, and/or depression, to be less able to control their attention and/or behavior, and to be engulfed with a constant sensation of “wanting”. Only people with CSBD, but not SUD, noted concerns with their social ties, fear of losing close others, and/or trusting others around them. Results also suggested that people with a SUD and people with CSBD share high commonalities in personality traits and temperament, yet there are noted differences in their social tendencies, especially with close others. People with CSBD reported more concerns with possible relationship losses compared to people with SUD issues, who may be more worried about losing their source of escapism.

Individual Differences in Testosterone and Self-Control Predict Compulsive Sexual Behavior Proneness in Young Males

The ability to control sexual urges and impulses is essential to achieve individual and social harmony. Failing to regulate sexual behavior can lead to the interference with daily life goals, sexual diseases transmission and moral violations, among others. The dual control model of sexual response proposes that an imbalance between sexual excitation and sexual inhibition mechanisms may lead to sexual dysregulation, thereby explaining problematic sexual behavior. Interindividual differences in self-control and testosterone levels are likely to modulate sexual regulation mechanisms, but these individual features have scarcely been studied in the context of compulsive sexual behavior. This study investigated the role of sexual excitation and inhibition, self-control and testosterone levels in predicting individuals’ proneness to display compulsive sexual behavior. Seventy healthy young males provided a saliva sample for testosterone measurements and filled in questionnaires on self-control, sexual excitation, sexual inhibition, sexual compulsivity and sexual behavior. High testosterone levels and low self-control were associated with higher sexual compulsivity scores. Additionally, testosterone levels and sexual inhibition negatively predicted the frequency of sexual behavior with a partner. The results of our study highlight the joint role of psychological traits and testosterone levels in compulsive sexual behavior proneness, providing implications regarding the prevention and treatment of this condition in young males.

The Effect of Stress on Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder: Active Coping Strategy and Self-Control as Mediators

Objective The aim of this study was to verify the effects of stress on compulsive sexual behavior disorder and the mediating effects of active coping strategies and self-control.Methods A self-reporting scale was administered to 300 adults aged 20 to 39, and the collected data were analyzed. The measures used for the study included a perceived stress scale, the way of coping checklist, a brief self-control scale, and an online compulsive sexual behavior disorder scale.Results The correlations between stress and active coping strategy, stress and lack of self-control, and lack of self-control and compulsive sexual behavior disorder were -0.18 (p<0.01), 0.38 (p<0.01), and 0.26 (p<0.01), respectively.Conclusion First, stress level was positively correlated with compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Second, self-control completely mediates the relationship between stress and compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Third, self-control and active coping strategies had sequential mediating effects in that order.

An empirical study of affective and cognitive functions in Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder

Background and aimsDespite the inclusion of the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) in the International Classification of Diseases, very little is known about the underlying affective and cognitive processes. To fill this gap, we compared CSBD subjects and Healthy-Controls (HC) across negative/positive valence, cognitive and sensorimotor systems, as proposed by the Research Domain Criteria framework.Methods74 heterosexual CSBD and 66 matched HC males were studied with 10 questionnaires and 8 behavioral tasks. Analyses were conducted with frequent and Bayesian statistics.ResultsCSBD individuals showed significantly higher (than HC) punishment sensitivity, anxiety, depression, compulsivity, and impulsivity symptoms. Frequentist statistical analysis revealed significant interaction between subject group and condition in Incentive Delay Task, concerning the strength of motivation and hedonic value of erotic rewards. Bayesian analysis produced evidence for the absence of group differences in Facial Discrimination Task, Risk-Ambiguity Task, and Learning Task. Also, Bayesian methods provided evidence for group differences in the Emotional Stroop Task and the Incentive Delay Task. Sexual Discounting Task, Attentional Network Task, and Stop Signal Task produced mixed results.ConclusionsHigher punishment sensitivity and impulsivity among CSBD subjects, along with significant interaction between these groups and erotic vs. non-erotic reward processing is in line with previous findings on negative/positive valence alterations in CSBD patients. This result shows that there are similarities to substance and behavioral addictions. The absence of group differences and mixed results related to cognitive and sensorimotor systems raise concerns to what extent CSBD resembles a wide spectrum of impairments observed in disorders, and demand further research.