Treatment of Sexual Addiction Within the British National Health Service

Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and Dhuffar, MK, 2014. Treatment of Sexual Addiction Within the British National Health Service. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 12 (5), pp. 561-571. ISSN 1557-1874

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Abstract

At present, the prevalence of rates of sexual addiction in the UK is unknown. This study investigated what treatment services were available within British Mental Health Trusts (MHTs) that are currently provided for those who experience compulsive and/or addictive sexual behaviours within the National Health Service (NHS) system. In March and April 2013, a total of 58 letters were sent by email to all Mental Health Trusts in the UK requesting information about (i) sexual addiction services and (ii) past five-year treatment of sexual addiction. The request for information was sent to all MHTs under the Freedom of Information Act (2001). Results showed that 53 of the 58 MHTs (91%) did not provide any service (specialist or otherwise) for treating those with problematic sexual behaviours. Based on the responses provided, only five MHTs reported having had treated sexual addiction as a disorder that took primacy over the past five years. There was also some evidence to suggest that the NHS may potentially treat sexual addiction as a secondary disorder that is intrinsic and/or co-morbid to the initial referral made by the GP. As it stands, treatment for problematic sexual behaviours in Great Britain is often delivered within a private sector. While Foundation Trusts have more flexibility with their funding, implementing specialist treatment for sexual addiction at this point in time is very limited. In implications for treatment in a British context is discussed.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
Creators:	Griffiths, M.D. and Dhuffar, M.K.
Publisher:	Springer US
Date:	2014
Volume:	12
Number:	5
ISSN:	1557-1874
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1007/s11469-014-9485-2 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jill Tomkinson
Date Added:	09 Dec 2015 15:36
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2017 13:58
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26641

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