Approach tendencies towards pornographic material in compulsive sexual behavior disorder: insights from the sex@brain study

Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) is a new category in the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases and has neuropsychological similarities with those disorders due to addictive behaviors. Initial automatic approach tendencies and an attentional bias towards preferred stimuli may be crucial to the maintenance of addictive behavior disorders. Aims: This experimental study aims to further our knowledge on approach-avoidance tendencies by examining a clinical sample with compulsive sexual behavior CSBD compared to a control-group. Methods: Participants completed the approach avoidance task (AAT) modified with pornographic pictures. Outcomes: We collected data on approach-avoidance tendencies from 43 heterosexual men with CSBD (age, M = 36.26, SD = 11.47) and a control group of 37 men without CSBD (age: M = 38.24, SD = 12.33). Results: Reaction times of the onset of cue presentation to initial hand movement show significantly more approach tendencies towards pornographic stimuli in men with CSBD vs. men without CSBD. Negative values of movement times (MT) suggested longer viewing times when enlarging the stimulus compared to shrinking the image for pornographic and neutral material with a larger difference in the CSBD group. The overall effect scores for RT show a faster reaction time in men without CSBD towards pornographic material, while the MT scores indicates that men with CSBD show longer viewing times for pornographic material. Conclusion: Our results emphasize previous findings in subclinical samples and show that CSBD is associated with approach tendencies at the time of stimulus presentation. These approach tendencies can be addressed therapeutically.

Comprehensive Psychiatry