A Review of Behavioral Interventions for Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder

Purpose of Review Compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) is a new diagnosis included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). Interventions have been developed to address CSBD-related issues. We sought to review findings from recently published behavioral interventions for CSBD. Recent Findings Nine clinical trials met criteria for inclusion in our review. Each intervention was associated with decreases in CSBD symptoms. Intervention formats differed considerably. Acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy were the most common overarching conceptual approaches. Most of the studies utilized small samples. Trials with larger samples had significant attrition problems. Of the reviewed studies, no follow-up measurements beyond 6-month post-treatment occurred. Almost all of the samples were comprised of men from Western countries. Four of the nine trials had control conditions (a waitlist in each case). While behavioral interventions for CSBD will likely decrease symptoms, future research is needed to ascertain preferred approaches. To address current treatment gaps in the literature, we recommend additional clinical trials utilizing larger/diverse samples with stronger conceptual grounding.

Automated summary

This article reviews recent behavioral interventions for compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) and finds that each intervention is associated with symptom reduction. However, the formats and sample sizes of the interventions vary, and most studies utilize small samples. Therefore, more clinical trials are needed in the future to determine preferred approaches.