title: Clinicians' Beliefs, Observations, and Treatment Effectiveness Regarding Clients' Sexual Addiction and Internet Pornography Use.
abstract: This study addressed how sex addiction and problematic IP use present to mental health professionals (MHPs), and how MHPs conceptualize and treat these issues. MHPs (N = 183) reported on beliefs about, experiences with, and treatment of problematic sexual behaviors (PBS). Most MHPs saw clients with PBS, but most do not feel competent to treat PBS. Specialized MHPs endorsed seeing more clients with PBS and feeling more effective than nonspecialists. Sexual addiction and problematic IP use share similarities, but differ in etiology and co-occurring problems. Diagnostic ambiguity, insufficient knowledge, and limited dissemination may hinder MHPs ability to assess and treat PBSs.
authors.affiliation: University of Houston-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX, 77058, USA. shortmb@uhcl.edu.
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Short
authors.affiliation: Rogers Memorial, 34700 Valley Road, Oconomowoc, WI, 53066, USA.
authors.forename: Chad T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wetterneck
authors.affiliation: University of Houston-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX, 77058, USA.
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bistricky
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shutter
authors.affiliation: University of Houston, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX, 77204, USA.
authors.forename: Tannah E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Chase
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D004882:Erotica / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019370:Observation; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Hypersexual disorder; Internet pornography use; Perceived competence; Sex addiction; Sexually explicit material