Nearly 100 professionals analyze the challenges of treating pornography addiction

About 100 health professionals took part on October 26 in a day of study on pornography addiction, organized by the Gregorio Marañón Hospital in Madrid and the Pornography and Sex Addiction Clinical Network (Red CAP).

The clinical professionals analyzed this problem, the difficulties in treatment, and the need to train more professionals to help those who suffer from it, reported the association Dale Una Vuelta.

During the meeting, neuroscientists, psychiatrists and psychologists agreed that more research is still needed, that diagnoses must be improved, and that the available treatments must be evaluated.

"What is lacking is not willpower, but trained professionals and greater visibility," said Jorge Gutiérrez Berlinches, director of Dale Una Vuelta, the organization that promotes Red CAP.

Pornography, which can become an addiction, also poses a challenge from the perspective of the Church, since it distorts human sexuality and can gravely damage the relationship of spouses.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2354, teaches that pornography "offends against chastity by distorting the sexual act, which is the intimate and bodily giving of spouses to one another," and constitutes a grave offense. The Church also reminds us that the people involved in its production and consumption must not be reduced to objects of pleasure.

What happens in the brain?

The neuroscientist Ignacio Obeso, a researcher at the Cajal Neuroscience Center (CSIC), explained that some people with difficulty controlling their pornography use show heightened attention to erotic stimuli and problems restraining their behavior.

"The neurobiological basis points to brain activation in anticipation of erotic reward and reduced involvement of the prefrontal cortex, which is what allows us to delay consumption and control behavior," he said.

Anxiety and depression, among the associated problems

Marisol Roncero, psychiatrist in the Behavioral Addictions unit of the Gregorio Marañón Hospital, presented data on her patients. Of some 2,500 people, about 28% present compulsive sexual behavior.

Roncero described a common profile of men between 30 and 45 years old. She also noted that anxiety and depression frequently appear among these patients, along with other problems such as alcohol use and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

"Dual pathology is the norm, not the exception," she stated, referring to the simultaneous presence of mental health problems and addictive behaviors.

The specialist also warned that the available data do not allow the number of people affected by these problems in the general population to be established precisely.

Suffering may lie behind the behavior

María Hernández-Mora, clinical psychologist and director of Red CAP, called for attention to the personal history of those who seek help. According to her, behind these behaviors there may be emotional problems, traumatic experiences, and affective deprivation.

"Sexual addiction has less to do with sex than with attachment and emotional bonding: the question is what calms a person and what function pornography serves when they cannot live without it," she explained.

The specialist also warned about the shame and guilt experienced by some patients. For this reason, she advocated care that combines careful clinical evaluation with treatments adapted to each person's needs.

The importance of an accurate diagnosis

Psychiatrist Néstor Szerman, president of the World Association of Dual Pathology (WADD), called for defining compulsive sexual behavior with precision. In his remarks he emphasized the importance of taking into account impulsivity and difficulty regulating emotions.

"All mental dysfunctions are rooted in the brain, and sexual dysfunctions are too," he stated. However, he warned that having a predisposition does not mean a person will necessarily develop an illness. "Genes determine risk, not diseases," he added.

A network to offer more help

Red CAP brings together more than 210 professionals and seeks to improve care for people who suffer because of their relationship with pornography or sexual behaviors they cannot control.

Its objectives include sharing knowledge, connecting specialists, and promoting common criteria for evaluating and treating these cases. The network counts on the participation of entities such as the Bellvitge University Hospital, Proyecto Hombre Madrid, Saludiversex, the Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, and the French-speaking Center for Pornography Addiction (CEFRAAP).

"If the demand already exists and remains largely hidden, our responsibility is to make it visible, offer responses, and prepare the resources we are going to need," said Hernández-Mora.

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