Woods' treatment raises questions about hypersexual disorder

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SALT LAKE CITY -- The treatment professional golfer Tiger Woods is undergoing has raised many questions. Many use the phrase "sex addiction," but doctors and therapists don't.

Woods may be the flash point, but his behavior is not unique. Hundreds of Utahns -- thousands in other states -- are suffering with, not an addiction, but a disorder.

"With a lot of treatment of addictions, such as substance-related disorders, the goal is abstinence. Whereas, people with hypersexual behavioral patterns, the goal is to help them live in harmony with their sexuality in a way that's congruent with their values and beliefs," says Dr. Rory C. Reid, a therapist who specializes in sexual compulsive disorders.

Reid also says it's not just the "rich and famous" who have this disorder. It affects people, and couples, throughout society.

"There does appear to be a pattern of inflexible types of thinking, or irrational thoughts, that perpetuate these types of behaviors. There appears to be a pattern of emotional disregulation. These people haven't learned how to manage and cope with their emotions in an effective way," Reid says.

There is no one cause of hypersexual disorder. Studies show many in treatment were emotionally neglected as children and escape this way; others cannot handle stress, have anxiety, depression, obsessive tendencies or sexual disorders. But there is hope and treatment.

"We're continuing to research what are the most effective ways," Reid says. "Is it going to be a combination of medication with psychotherapy? Is it a 12-step model? Is it group therapy led by a therapist? Is it a life coach that might be helpful?"

More and more people in treatment abuse pornography. Reid says one way to prevent that is for parents to raise children with healthy, sexual attitudes.

"If we don't talk about sex, the Internet will. And do we really want our kids to go to the Internet about sexuality?" he says.

Though it is not clearly defined, the American Psychiatric Association has recently considered adding hypersexual disorder to the next edition of its manual used for diagnosis.

E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com