Open AccessHypersexuality as a tip of the iceberg of a primary psychopathology: a joined position statement of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) and of the Italian Society of Psychopathology (SOPSI)
Author(s) -
Erika Limoncin,
Giacomo Ciocca,
Giovanni Castellini,
Andrea Sansone,
Francesca Cavalieri,
F. Cavallo,
T. Cocchiaro,
Valdo Ricca,
Giorgio Di Lorenzo,
Alessandro Rossi,
Alessandra D. Fisher,
Vincenzo Rochira,
Giovanni Corona,
Emmanuele A. Jannini
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of endocrinological investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.034
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1720-8386
pISSN - 0391-4097
DOI - 10.1007/s40618-022-01798-3
Subject(s) - hypersexuality , psychopathology , sexology , sexual medicine , psychiatry , medicine , paraphilia , psychology , position statement , biopsychosocial model , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , sexual behavior , human sexuality , family medicine , gender studies , sociology
In the last years, hypersexual behavior has been broadly scientifically studied. The interest in this topic, belonging to psycho-sexology and sexual medicine, has been due to its still unclear aetiology, nature, and its manifestation in relationship with several organic and psychopathological conditions. So, the specialist (the psychologist, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, neurologist) may encounter some difficulties in diagnosing and managing this symptom. The first main objective of this position statement, which has been developed in collaboration between the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) and the Italian Society of Psychopathology (SOPSI) is to give to the reader evidence about the necessity to consider hypersexuality as a symptom related to another underlying condition. Following this consideration, the second main objective is to give specific statements, for the biopsychosocial assessment and the diagnosis of hypersexual behavior, developed on the basis of the most recent literature evidence. To develop a psycho-pharmacological treatment tailored on patients' needs, our suggestion is to assess the presence of specific comorbid psychopathological and organic conditions, and the impact of pharmacological treatments on the presence of an excess of sexual behavior. Finally, a suggestion of a standardized psychometric evaluation of hypersexuality will be given.