While the world is still debating about whether sex addiction is real or not, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified compulsive sexual behaviour or sex addiction as a mental health condition.
Earlier, amidst much controversy, gaming disorder was also included as a serious mental health issue in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
The ICD, a diagnostic manual published by the WHO, was last updated in 1990 and its new and updated edition is called ICD-11.
So what decides whether you have compulsive sexual behavior?
Speaking with FIT earlier, Dr Shailesh Jha, Associate Consultant Psychiatry, Apollo Hospitals, Sarita Vihar had this to say:
For sex addicts, this intense desire dominates all their thoughts. It hampers their daily activities severely as such urges can quickly become uncontrollable.
So how long does a person need to exhibit such symptoms to be tagged as a sex addict?
But it’s important to not tag every sexual activity as compulsive sexual behaviour.
Dr. Aruna Broota, a Psychologist in Delhi feels that sex addiction or sex mania has always existed. Such addicts live by the theory of ‘dil maange more’ (the heart wants more) so most of the activities like partying, romance, shopping, indulging in sexual activities etc. become an obsession.
Earlier, women with intense sexual desires were called nymphomaniacs while the same condition in men was known as satyriasis.
But those who believe compulsive sexual behaviour is not real, say compulsive sexual behavior is part of a larger problem.
Another argument used by people opposing the classification is that it can be used to defend crimes under the guise of a mental health issue.
Dr Samir Parikh, Consultant Psychiatrist and Director of Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare, explains that sex addiction is like any other addictive process. One develops an addiction and follows it. When one tries to stop, one experiences withdrawal symptoms and tries to indulge in the activity again and feels guilty about it.
Dr Parikh feels that this classification will help people acknowledge their addiction, seek help and lead better lives.
Dr Sandeep Vohra, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi felt that Indians first needed to talk openly about sex. Issues like sex addiction could only be acknowledged, discussed, diagnosed and treated if the taboo around sex was first eliminated.
(With media inputs)
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