Controversies About Hypersexual Disorder and the DSM-5

Abstract

Criteria for hypersexual disorder were proposed for consideration for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), but ultimately rejected by the American Psychiatric Association despite a field trial suggesting the criteria were valid and reliable. This article highlights the vast array of controversial issues surrounding the proposal for hypersexual disorder. While some criticisms covered a broader scope of general concerns about the field of psychiatric mental illness, many of these often extended to the proposal for hypersexual disorder. It is important to discuss both general concerns about psychiatric disorders and those specifically focused on hypersexuality in order to understand the challenges encountered in advancing the criteria for hypersexual disorder. This article attempts to place the controversies, criticisms, and issues about hypersexuality in context from leading experts in the field.