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High Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Men With Hypersexual Disorder.


ABSTRACT:

Context

Hypersexual disorder (HD) involves excessive, persistent sexual behaviors related to various mood states and the diagnosis compulsive sexual behavior disorder is included as an impulse control disorder in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Although the neurobiology behind the disorder is not clear, some studies suggest dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Oxytocin acts as counterregulatory neuroendocrine hormone to cortisol and is also involved in sexual behavior.

Objective

We hypothesized that oxytocin may play a role in the pathophysiology of HD with compensatory actions to cortisol.

Design

Longitudinal.

Setting

ANOVA clinic (Karolinska University Hospital).

Patients or other participants

64 males with HD and 38 age-matched healthy volunteers.

Main outcome measures

Plasma oxytocin levels, measured with radioimmunoassay; Hypersexual Disorder Screening Inventory; and Hypersexual Disorder: Current Assessment Scale for assessing hypersexual symptoms.

Interventions

A patient subgroup (n = 30) completed the manual-based group-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program for HD, and posttreatment oxytocin levels were measured.

Results

Hypersexual men (n = 64) exhibited significantly higher oxytocin plasma levels (mean ± SD: 31.0 ± 9.9 pM) compared with healthy volunteers (16.9 ± 3.9 pM; P < 0.001). There were significant positive correlations between oxytocin levels and the rating scales measuring hypersexual behavior. Patients who completed CBT treatment (n = 30) had a significant reduction of oxytocin plasma levels from pretreatment (30.5 ± 10.1 pM) to posttreatment (20.2 ± 8.0 pM; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The results suggest that the hyperactive oxytocinergic system in hypersexual men may be a compensatory mechanism to attenuate hyperactive stress.

SUBMITTER: Flanagan J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9016473 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

High Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Men With Hypersexual Disorder.

Flanagan John J   Chatzittofis Andreas A   Boström Adrian Desai E ADE   Hallberg Jonas J   Öberg Katarina Görts KG   Arver Stefan S   Jokinen Jussi J  

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 20220401 5


<h4>Context</h4>Hypersexual disorder (HD) involves excessive, persistent sexual behaviors related to various mood states and the diagnosis compulsive sexual behavior disorder is included as an impulse control disorder in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Although the neurobiology behind the disorder is not clear, some studies suggest dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Oxytocin acts as counterregulatory neuroendocrine hormone to cortisol and is also  ...[more]

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