People with attention deficit disorder, with or without hyperactivity (ADHD), suffer in particular from depressive symptoms. Hypersexuality would be a way of relieving this psychological distress.
- Attention deficit disorder, with or without hyperactivity (ADHD), causes various symptoms, including depression and difficulty regulating emotions.
- In some people, this could cause hypersexuality disorders.
- This sexual hyperactivity would be a way of compensating for negative emotions and psychological distress.
Mental health influences our behaviors. Researchers from the University of Rome demonstrate this in Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. They find that attention deficit disorder, with or without hyperactivity (ADHD), increases the risk of hypersexuality, a disorder marked by addictive sexual behaviors.
Hypersexuality and ADHD: understanding the link between these two disorders
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, marked by three characteristics: an attentional deficit, motor hyperactivity, that is to say difficulty staying still, and impulsivity. “Numerous studies in the scientific literature show a correlation between hypersexual symptomatology and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), remind the authors in the preamble. The present study aims to investigate this correlation and the possible mediating role of impulsivity.” To achieve this, Italian researchers recruited 309 people, aged 18 to 79, some of whom had ADHD. All participants answered questionnaires about their possible depressive symptoms, impulsivity, sexual behavior, etc. “We found a significant association between ADHD symptomatology and hypersexuality symptoms.”, note the authors. People with ADHD, depressive or manic disorders were more likely to have compulsive sexual behaviors.
How to explain the links between ADHD and hypersexuality?
Scientists at the University of Rome also found that impulsivity, a core trait of ADHD, was closely linked to ADHD symptoms and hypersexual behavior.suggesting that impulsivity plays a critical role in this association.”, according to them. “This type of behavior could fulfill the role of a regulatory strategy in these individuals., they suppose. Hypersexuality would thus be a way of relieving the negative emotions and psychological distress felt by these people. “Hypersexual symptomatology tends to occur in response to dysphoric emotional statesspecify the researchers in an article from PsyPost. Strong negative emotions and difficulties in emotional regulation trigger sexual behavior, which is used as an emotion-based coping strategy.”
ADHD: how is this disorder treated?
To regulate these strong emotions, the treatment of ADHD can be based on different drug treatments. She also goes through psychotherapy sessions, including behavioral and cognitive therapy. In France, Health Insurance estimates that 5.9% of those under 18 and 2.8% of adults are affected by ADHD.