Paroxetine Treatment of Problematic Pornography Use: A Case Series
Open accessAbstract
Background: How best to conceptualize problematic pornography use (PPU) and intervene most effectively remain debated, with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction frameworks. We investigated the efficacy of the serotonin-reuptake inhibitor paroxetine in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of problematic pornography use (PPU). Case presentation: Three heterosexual males with PPU were treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy and paroxetine. Frequency of pornography use, other sexual behaviors, and anxiety were assessed during treatment. Discussion: Paroxetine treatment, although seemingly initially effective in reducing pornography use and anxiety, appeared related to new compulsive sexual behaviors after 3 months. Conclusions: Paroxetine may hold promise for short-term reduction of PPU and related anxiety, but new potentially distressing sexual behaviors may emerge. The cases suggest that PPU may arise from multiple domains. We propose an explanation of the effects based on recent neuroscientific research on sexual behaviors and alcohol use.
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No clear longer-term beneficial effects were seen in response to the SSRI paroxetine in a case series, consistent with the results of an earlier study.
“No clear longer-term beneficial effects were seen in response to the SSRI paroxetine in a case series 290 , consistent with the results of an earlier study 291 .”
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Gola, M., & Potenza, M. N.
- Affiliations
- University of California San Diego (US)
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gola, Mateusz
- Venue
- Journal of Behavioral Addictions
- Publisher
- Akademiai Kiado Zrt.
- Published
- 2016-07-20
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 529-532
- ISSN
- 2062-5871 (ISSN-L)
- 2063-5303
- PMC
- PMC5264421
- OpenAlex
- W2488135527
- Cited by
- 146
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4
- FWCI
- 13.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Behavioral Addictions (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (UL1TR001863)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- problematic pornography use, paroxetine, cognitive behavioral therapy, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, compulsive sexual behavior, anxiety, sexual addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcohol consumption, sexual behavior
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Combined Modality Therapy, Erotica, Humans, Male, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavior, Addictive, Treatment Outcome, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Paroxetine, Heterosexuality, Young Adult
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