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Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder (CSBD) is the clinical term behind what many people call “sex addiction.” At Therapy Utah, we provide confidential, evidence-based assessment and care for people who feel unable to control sexual urges or behaviors despite the cost.
The ICD-11 Definition
The World Health Organization added CSBD to the ICD-11 as an impulse-control disorder. It is defined by “a persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges resulting in repetitive sexual behaviour” that continues over six months or more and causes marked distress or impairment (Kraus et al., 2018, World Psychiatry). Crucially, the diagnosis centers on loss of control and distress — not on how much sex a person has or on any moral judgment.
How Common Is It?
A nationally representative study in JAMA Network Open found that 8.6% of U.S. adults reported clinically significant distress related to difficulty controlling sexual urges and behaviors (Dickenson et al., 2018) — about one in eleven people.
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Common Symptoms
- Repeated, unsuccessful efforts to cut back or stop
- Sexual behavior becoming a central focus that crowds out other priorities
- Continuing despite negative consequences or little satisfaction
- Using sex to escape stress or painful emotions
- Secrecy and escalation
Getting Help
CSBD is treatable. Learn more in our overview of sex addiction therapy, explore our SA/BT program, or contact us for a confidential assessment.
Take the first step toward healing — reach out today.
Educational information, not a substitute for clinical assessment. Sources: Kraus et al. (2018), World Psychiatry; Dickenson et al. (2018), JAMA Network Open.