An Indian Study of Hypersexual Disorder in Patients with Anxiety and Mood Disorders

Abstract

Hypersexuality is characterized by repetitive and intense preoccupation with sexual thoughts, urges, and behaviors that lead to clinically significant distress or impairment in socio-occupational functioning of the affected individual. Although hypersexuality is commonly associated with mania, interestingly studies have reported hypersexuality in persons suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. This study assessed the presence of hypersexual disorder (HD) and type of hypersexual behavior in diagnosed cases of mood and anxiety disorder. Ninety-three patients having mood and anxiety disorders were assessed once for hypersexuality at any time in their life using the Hypersexual Disorder Screening Inventory (HDSI) and Hypersexual Disorder: Current Assessment Scale (HD: CAS). On HDSI, 25% of patients having a mood and/or anxiety disorder screened positive for HD. The most common sexual behavior in these patients was consensual sex with adults. Those screening positive for HD were assessed for their most recent 2-week symptom severity, and most patients had mild symptom severity. This study points toward hypersexual disorder being a separate diagnostic entity and being prevalent in patients with depression and anxiety disorder too.