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SY-31
Compulsive Sexual Behaviour: What Do we Know to Date?
(Consulta Dr. Carlos Chiclana Symposium)
The recent inclusion of Compulsive Sexual Behavior
(CSC) in ICD-11 may facilitate the understanding, con-
ceptualization, and clinical approach to situations in
which various people seek help with a sexual behavior
they claim not to control. Despite this, the scientific
debate about the etiology and the course of this reality
remains open. To date, research does not answer all
the questions that clinicians need to address it. This
Symposium aims to delve deeper into the categoriza-
tion and explanatory models of CHC, the relationship
of pornography consumption with this problem and, in
turn, to understand the different modulatory variables
that are of interest to be taken into consideration for
the development and maintenance of these symptoms.
Is CHC really a problem? Does pornography require a
specific category? How is the profile of people seeking
help? Is a multidisciplinary approach necessary? Does
it really need to be treated?
Keywords: Compulsive Sexual Behaviour, Human
Sexuality, Pornography use
Use of Online Pornography: ¿Compulsive Sexual Behavior or Behavioral
Addiction?
Maria Contreras Chicote
Departamento de psicología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Actually, the rise of new technologies has facilitated de
emergence of addictive behavior through the Internet
(video games, shopping, betting or cybersex). The use
of online pornography can be considered as one of
those risk behaviors for the development of sexual
addiction.
It is a common activity among young people, where
71% of man and 29% woman recognize pornography
consumption. This data increases in countries where
Internet access is not restricted. Regarding problematic
use, the only study with a representative sample
(20.094 persons) reports that 1,2% of woman and 4,4%
of men confirm having addictive sexual behaviour.
Despite the increase of people who report having this
behavior, there is controversy in the scientist literature
about the conceptualization and etiology of this behav-
iour. Different terms have been used to refer to this
problem, being “addiction”the term most used. Sexual
addiction was proposed to the DSM-5 under the term
“Hypersexual disorder”, as a new psychiatric diagnosis,
but it was not included. Recently the ICD-11 has
included in its latest version, the concept of
“Compulsive sexual behaviour”. This term can be con-
sidered an umbrella that encompasses several problem-
atic sexual behaviours, such as the harmful
consumption of pornography. Regarding the etiology,
an attempt has been made to explain a model that
explains the psychopathological nature of this behav-
iour from different scientific perspectives. There are a
variety of theories trying to explain the cognitive and
emotional process behind this behaviour: neurobio-
logical theory, attachment theory, learning theory or
dual pathology theory.
This work will consist of a narrative review of the
last 15 years on the state of the issue of sexual behav-
iour out of control, in which, we will review the con-
text, epidemiology, etiology, conceptualization, and
clinical manifestations.
Keywords: Behavioural Addiction, Pornography use,
Sexuality
Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: None
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEXUAL HEALTH A99
Use of Pornography: An Unresolved Debate
Alejandro Villena Moya
Unidad de Sexología Clínica y Salud Sexual, Consulta Dr. Carlos Chiclana, Madrid, Spain
At present, the scientific debate on the possible conse-
quences of the use of pornography remains unresolved.
Some authors state that it should never be considered
an addiction and that there may even be positive con-
sequences of its use, such as an increase in partner
desire, learning about sexual relations and improving
sexual self-esteem. Other authors report that such con-
sumption can be harmful: facilitating aggressive behav-
iours in the sexual field, unrealistic expectations about
sexual relations, erectile dysfunction and that it can be
considered as a behavioural addiction. The most recent
research affirms that the consequences of the use of
pornography are mediated by factors such as attach-
ment, personality characteristics or sexual education.
Can the problematic use of pornography be considered
an addiction or an independent pathology? Is it use
harmful or beneficial? Should online access be regu-
lated to adolescents?
The results obtained on the possible consequences
derived from the use of pornography are presented
(N = 525 and N = 330). At the same time, aspects of
the classification of pornography as an independent
diagnostic entity and its possible relation with
Compulsive Sexual Behavior (CSC) are debated.
The results show that the consequences of the use of
pornography are diverse, being able to help to know
better the human body, but also, they facilitate the
comparison and the frustration with the body of the
actors and actresses, among other aspects. These results
can provide a broad view of the different profiles of
pornography users.
The role of sex education, religiosity, personality fac-
tors and attachment style should be explored in depth
to assess the categorization of problematic use of
pornography.
Keywords: Pornography use, Compulsive Sexual
Behaviour, Sexuality
Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: None
Compulsive Sexual Behaviour: Is It Really Necessary to Treat?
Carlos Chiclana Actis
Unidad de Sexología Clínica, Consulta Dr. Carlos Chiclana, Madrid, Spain
In clinical practice, we see people who ask for help
because they feel their sexual behaviour is out of con-
trol. Although some do present an addictive pattern
or pathological behaviour, others have a problematic
use or come for partner`s, moral, religious or legal
reasons, making difficult the approach. Can all these
people be diagnosed with Compulsive Sexual
Behaviour (CSB) or is it a new construct to explain
other problems?
In CIE-11, World Health Organization includes CSB
as a pathology in which repetitive sexual behaviours
become the focus of the person’s life, generating deteri-
oration; making numerous unsuccessful efforts to con-
trol them, continuing sexual behaviours despite the
adverse consequences and even when pleasure is not
derived or is very small.
It is discussed whether the etiology is compulsive,
addictive, impulsive or learned and there is little
research on it. However, there are validated diagnostic
instruments and the first randomized clinical trials are
beginning to be published. In addition, it is necessary
to take into account variables related to the origin of
the problem and where it would be necessary to inter-
vene such as poor sexual education, early exposure to
pornography, attachment, personality, hypersexualiza-
tion of society, social pressure for early and frequent
sexual behaviour, violence against women and mach-
ismo, dual pathology, use of technology, religiosity and
spirituality.
We present, with a critical perspective, our experi-
ence with a series of cases (n= 148). We propose pos-
sible clinical strategies for differential diagnosis and
A100 ABSTRACTS
design of a therapeutic plan (pharmacological and psy-
chotherapeutic) adapted to the reality and problems of
those who ask the professional for help.
Keywords: Compulsive Sexual Behaviour, Sex
Addiction, Hypersexuality
Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement: None
SY-32
New Trends in Portuguese Sexology Research (SPSC Symposium)
In this symposium we intend to present some examples
of the most preeminent research developed in Portugal
considering its intersection with sexual rights. The
Portuguese Society of Clinical Sexology has had an
active role in promoting sexual rights and sexual edu-
cation in basic sexology, sex therapy and clinical sex-
ology. Our courses generally demand that trainees also
develop research that is socially implicated or clinically
relevant. This has created an atmosphere that has led
to relevant research and activism with important polit-
ical and health policy implications. In this brief presen-
tation by three women we intend to show the diversity
of the work that Portuguese sexologists are performing
and also claim room for Portuguese female researchers,
an important aspect as up until recently Portuguese
women had barely the opportunity to have a sexual life
that was free of social and political constraints, as well
as access to careers and sex research has been seen as
minor field for professional development which creates
a difficult intersection for female researchers.
Keywords: Sexual satisfaction, Multiple orgasm,
Politicized Intimacy
Narratives of Women Struggling to Politicize Intimacy, Published in the Press
(Modas & Bordados) after the Carnation Revolution (Portugal, 1974)
Isabel Freire
Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Introduction: In Portugal, after the Carnation
Revolution (1974), the women’s magazine Modas &
Bordados (M&B) publishes an editorial defending the
birth of a “new country”and engaging in the struggle
to listen to women’s aspirations and problems, to
encourage them to make their own choices “at home,
at work, on the streets”. Was it women’s right to sexu-
ality included in the problems and aspirations the
magazine wanted to make visible and highlight?
Method(s) & Sample: A content analysis (quantita-
tive) of M&B between 1968 and 1978 revealed a grow-
ing concern with sexuality immediately after the
Carnation Revolution, namely by the agenda-setting of
topics such as family planning, contraception, abortion,
youth sexuality and pornography.
I analyze (qualitatively) the content of three narra-
tives published after 1974: a teenager letter (Gisela)
entitled “I made love for the first time on the night of
the revolution”; an interview of the feminist Maria
Teresa Horta (Movimento de Libertação da Mulher)
with Simone de Beauvoir; the cartoon “Heloísa”(Sam)
portraying the dreams and fears of a young woman
longing for emancipation.
Findings & discussion: Gisela claims sexual rights
for women and young people. Maria Teresa Horta (co-
author of Novas Cartas Portuguesas) discusses with
Simone de Beauvoir how was considered a woman
who wanted to have a “true relationship with her
body”, by that time, in Portugal. Heloísa, the figure of
Sam’s cartoon, expresses the inner conflict of a women
educated to repress or deny sexual desire and pleasure,
living in a society where pleasure was being shout out
loud in spheres such as cinema or literature. The three
narratives contribute to disclose and discuss an emer-
gent notion of “intimate citizenship”. In this period of
transition from the New State dictatorship to democ-
racy, sexuality goes public and political in Modas &
Bordados.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEXUAL HEALTH A101