Addicted: Golfer Tiger Woods a formal apology in 2010 for his infidelity. The shamed golfer underwent a six-week intensive programme to treat his sex addiction
Sex addiction is a legitimate mental disorder that can ruin careers, destroy relationships and cause health problems, say US psychologists.
Out of control sexual behaviour can ruin people's lives, researchers say, but psychiatrists have been reluctant to accept it as a genuine disorder.
Now a team from the University of California, Los Angeles has devised a set of criteria to define 'hypersexual disorder' as a new mental health condition.
Symptoms include a recurring pattern of sexual fantasies, urges and behaviors lasting a period of six months or longer that are not caused by other issues, such as substance abuse or another medical condition.
Also, individuals who might be diagnosed with this disorder must show a pattern of sexual activity in response to unpleasant mood states, such as feeling depressed, or a pattern of repeatedly using sex as a way of coping with stress.
The results of the study, reported in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, will influence whether hypersexual disorder should be included in the forthcoming revised edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, considered the 'bible' of psychiatry.
Professor Rory Reid said: 'The criteria for hypersexual disorder that have been proposed, and now tested, will allow researchers and clinicians to study, treat and develop prevention strategies for individuals at risk for developing hypersexual behavior.
'As with many other mental health disorders, there must also be evidence of personal distress caused by the sexual behaviors that interfere with relationships, work or other important aspects of life.'
Professor Reid led a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists to make his recommendations.
They conducted psychological testing and interviews with 207 patients in several mental health clinics around the country.
All of the patients were seeking help for out-of-control sexual behavior, a substance-abuse disorder or another psychiatric condition, such as depression or anxiety.
The team found that the proposed criteria for hypersexual disorder accurately classified 88 per cent of hypersexual patients as having the disorder. The criteria were also accurate in identifying negative results 93 per cent of the time.
Hollywood star Michael Douglas, seen here in the film You, Me And Dupree, famously checked into an Arizona clinic to be treated for sex addiction during his marriage to his first wife
Treatment: David Duchovny spent two months at a rehabilitation clinic for his sex addiction in 2008
Of the 207 patients they examined, 17 per cent had lost a job at least once, 39 per cent had a relationship end, 28 per cent contracted a sexually transmitted infection and 78 per cent had interference with healthy sex.
Prof Reid said: 'So an individual meeting the criteria for hypersexual disorder can experience significant challenges and consequences in their life.
'Our study showed increased hypersexual behaviour was related to greater emotional disturbance, impulsivity and an inability to manage stress.'
He said that hypersexual patients reported excessive masturbation, use of pornography, cyber sex, sex with prostitutes, affairs and multiple anonymous partners.
They averaged 15 partners in the previous 12 months.
'It's not that a lot of people don't take sexual risks from time to time or use sex on occasion to cope with stress or just escape, but for these patients, it's a constant pattern that escalates until their desire for sex is controlling every aspect of their lives and they feel powerless in their efforts to change,' he added.
Russell Brand has spoken openly about his past sex addiction. He said he went to 'desperate' measures to satisfy his cravings
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