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Sexuality in ADHD: empirical data concerning hypersexual and paraphilic fantasies and behaviors in adults with ADHD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

P. Gregório Hertz ,
D. Turner  and
W. Retz
P. Gregório Hertz*
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Mainz, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Mainz, Germany
D. Turner
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Mainz, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Mainz, Germany
W. Retz
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Mainz, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Mainz, Germany
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder displaying inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity as core symptoms. It can affect several areas of life including sexual health. Clinicians have often made assumptions concerning the bound of specific ADHD symptoms affecting sexual desire by increasing its frequency and intensity. Yet, there is still a lack of knowledge about the comorbidity between ADHD, hypersexuality, and paraphilias. A recent literature review could show that some individuals who suffer from ADHD report about hypersexual and paraphilic fantasies and behaviors, but as far as we know, no clear empirical data has emerged supporting the idea that hypersexuality and paraphilias are more frequent in individuals with ADHD.

Objectives

The present investigation aimed to compare several sexuality related aspects between individuals with and without ADHD.

Methods

Therefore, we designed an extensive online survey based on established questionnaires, such as the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI). The survey was implemented in a outpatient sample, ADHD specific fora as well as other general online channels.

Results

In total, N = 238 individuals participated in the survey (n = 160 with ADHD). Thereby, individuals with ADHD reported significantly more often about a wide range of hypersexual fantasies and behaviors in comparison to individuals without ADHD. Furthermore, individuals with ADHD reported significantly more often about paraphilic fantasies and behaviors including fetishistic and sadistic sexual fantasies. No differences were found concerning other paraphilias. Further results regarding other facets of sexuality, such as sexual orientation, are to be presented and discussed.

Conclusions

The present study contributes to closing the knowledge gap regarding sexuality in individuals with an ADHD.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

ADHDhypersexualityparaphilia
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 65 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry , June 2022 , pp. S283
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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