Serotonergic medications for sexual obsessions, sexual addictions, and paraphilias.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Paraphilias and related disorders have recently been thought of as sexual addictions. However, it has also been argued that these disorders are sexual compulsions. The question arises as to whether these disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder respond in the same way to pharmacotherapy.

METHOD:

We retrospectively reviewed outcome in 13 patients who presented with sexual symptoms and were treated with serotonin reuptake blockers. Symptoms were divided into paraphilias, nonparaphilic sexual addictions, and sexual obsessions.

RESULTS:

Paraphilias had the least improvement, while sexual obsessions had the best response to medication.

CONCLUSION:

Paraphilias and related disorders may be less responsive than sexual obsessions or compulsions to serotonin reuptake blockers. Perhaps paraphilias and related disorders are on the impulsive rather than the compulsive end of the spectrum of obsessive compulsive disorders. Controlled trials are, however, necessary to replicate these preliminary findings.

• Authors: D J Stein, E Hollander, D T Anthony, F R Schneier, B A Fallon, M R Liebowitz, D F Klein
• Journal: The Journal of clinical psychiatry (J Clin Psychiatry) Vol. 53 Issue 8 Pg. 267-71 (Aug 1992) ISSN: 0160-6689 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1386848 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors
• Fluoxetine
• Fenfluramine
• Serotonin
• Clomipramine
• Fluvoxamine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Behavior, Addictive (complications, drug therapy, psychology)
• Clomipramine (therapeutic use)
• Fenfluramine (therapeutic use)
• Fluoxetine (therapeutic use)
• Fluvoxamine (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (complications, drug therapy, psychology)
• Paraphilic Disorders (complications, drug therapy, psychology)
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Retrospective Studies
• Serotonin (physiology)