Are nonparaphilic sexual addictions a variant of obsessive-compulsive disorder? A pilot study Original Research Article

Nonparaphilic sexual addictions (NPSAs), which are characterized by repetitive sexual thoughts and behaviors, have been proposed as an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder. In the present study we examined the functional differences in repetitive sexual thoughts and compulsive behaviors between patients with OCD (n = 6) and with NPSAs (n = 6). Compared to patients with NPSAs, those with OCD reported significantly more fear and avoidance related to their sexual thoughts. Individuals with NPSAs reported higher levels of sexual arousal associated with their thoughts and a greater degree of sexual pleasure from performing compulsive behaviors. These preliminary findings challenge the notion that NPSAs are related to OCD. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for treatment using cognitive-behavioral procedures.