Sexual & Identity Disorders

Sex Addiction Is On The Rise In The 14th Season Premiere Of 'South Park' Beginning On ...

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:09:00 +0000

NEW YORK, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest in scientific testing reveals that some of the boys have a sex addiction problem in the 14^th season premiere of "South Park" titled "Sexual Healing," premiering on Wednesday, March 17 at 10:00 p.m. on COMEDY CENTRAL.

The nation's top scientists come together to put a stop to the recent phenomenon of rich, successful men who suddenly want to have sex with many, many women. After extensive testing, some of the fourth grade boys in South Park Elementary are diagnosed as sex addicts.

Launched in 1997, "South Park," now in its 14th season, remains the highest-rated series on COMEDY CENTRAL. "South Park" repeats Wednesdays at 12:00 a.m., Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. and Sundays at 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.

Co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are executive producers, along with Anne Garefino, of the Emmy^® and Peabody^® Award-winning "South Park." Frank...

Sexual addiction: Behavior has many causes [BC-LR-SEXADDICTION:MI]

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:08:00 +0000

Tiger Woods remains in the news, and so does speculation that he suffers from sex addiction.

But is there any such thing? Couldn't you lay that accusation at the feet of any randy college sophomore, predatory female "cougar" or aging lothario _ up to and including 83-year-old Hugh Hefner?

"It's absolutely a legitimate disorder," said Dr. William Samek, director of the Florida Sexual Abuse Treatment Program in South Miami. "I've diagnosed and treated many people with it."

Sexual addiction can have many causes, said Dr. Eva Ritvo, vice chair of the psychiatry department at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

"One is a narcissism disorder. The idea that 'the rules don't apply to me.' We see that a lot with celebrities and politicians. They believe they're special," she said.

Both experts stressed that they were speaking in general, not trying to diagnose Woods, whom they've never met.

In his Feb. 19 public statement,...

Therapy may help women with low sex desire

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:16:00 +0000

An estimated 33 percent of U.S. women have low sexual desire and it is the top problem women bring to sex therapists, a researcher says.

Laurie Mintz -- associate professor of educational, school and counseling psychology in the Missouri University College of Education -- said drugs to treat low sexual desire may take the focus away from the most common culprits of diminished desire in women, including lack of information on how our bodies work, body image issues, relationship issues and a stressful lifestyle.

"Indeed, research demonstrates that relationship issues are far more important in predicting women's sexual desire than are hormone levels," Mintz said in a statement. "Before women seek medical treatments, they should consider psychological treatment."

In a study, Mintz recruited married women ages 28-65, who said they were uninterested in sexual activity and had them complete questionnaires. Half of the participants were selected randomly to read Mintz's book and...

Is the 12- step programme any good for sex addiction?

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:01:00 +0000

Tiger Woods's public apology for his infidelity has fuelled the long- standing debate about sexual disorders and how to treat them. We talk to therapists here about sex addiction and whether the 12- step programme can help

HOW MUCH is too much, and when does any habit become "excessive", be this eating, drinking, shopping or sex? The answer, say therapists, lies in whether this behaviour damages your life in any way. It was Clinton who first offered us a glimpse of how sex can ruin a person's life. More recently, Tiger Woods's string of sexual escapades has confirmed this idea that 'out of control' sexual behaviour which seems addictive can have farreaching consequences.

Sex addiction is being recognised as a problem the world over but in the Indian context, very little research has been done on this problem and its treatment. Experts say that this is because sex is still a...

Sex addiction divides mental health experts [BC-HEALTH-SEX-ADDICTION:LA]

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:05:00 +0000

Tiger Woods, who recently admitted to multiple extramarital affairs, said he is receiving treatment. David Duchovny, who plays a sex-obsessed professor on the TV show "Californication," underwent rehab in 2008. Dr. Drew Pinsky has launched a reality series dealing with the subject.

Sex addiction talk seems to be everywhere. But mental health experts are split on what underlies such behavior.

The American Psychiatric Association has proposed that out-of-control sexual appetites be included as a diagnosis in the next edition of the psychiatrists' bible, the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," to be published in 2013.

Unlike compulsive gambling, which also is proposed for addition to the new DSM (to be called DSM-5), the proposed diagnosis _ hypersexual disorder _ stops short of categorizing the problem as an addiction, and for a reason.

"If we are looking at a disorder, it's not clear what that disorder is," said Michael Miner, a professor of...

Sex offender rehab takes new tack: Emphasis on treatment, parole pays off, Canadian expert says ...

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:42:00 +0000

Mar. 6--Since its introduction three years ago, Japan's correctional program for sex offenders, modeled after Canada's system, has made great strides, a leading expert on rehabilitation from Ontario says.

Still, the country must develop a stronger parole system if it wants to reduce the risk of recidivism, said William Marshall, professor emeritus of psychology and psychiatry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

In fact, providing good supervision is also cost-effective compared with measures like the electronic monitoring of sex offenders, according to Marshall.

"The treatment is the crucial and the most important part, but the release in the community before sentencing expires with very good supervision -- all that plays a part in reducing (further offenses). There is no question about that," Marshall, 74, said in an interview with The Japan Times.

Marshall, also the director of Rockwood Psychological Services, a private organization that provides treatment for incarcerated sex offenders, was invited to...

Sex offender in teen's killing eluded suspicion

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:36:00 +0000

SAN DIEGO -- When 17-year-old Chelsea King disappeared in a park last week, authorities checked photographs of sex offenders registered in the San Diego area. John Albert Gardner III was not among them.

When a 16-year-old girl was attacked last year in Riverside County, authorities did a similar check of the sex offender registry. Again, Gardner was not among them.

In both investigations, Gardner eluded detection because he was registered as a sex offender in different counties.

As authorities search for Gardner's possible links to other cases, his trail highlights how sex offenders in California manage to avoid suspicion even under a system designed to keep close tabs on the state's most dangerous predators.

"Obviously there's loopholes and he seems to have found them, either by design or by happenstance," said Marc Klaas, who founded Klaaskids Foundation after his 12-year-old daughter Polly was abducted from a slumber party in 1993 and later found...

Tearful testimony in abuse case for Madison day care owner [The Wisconsin State Journal]

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:34:00 +0000

Mar. 4--A former Madison day care owner testified Wednesday that she was "in shock" in 2008 when she was accused by police of hurting some of the children in her care.

"My soul just left me. I was in shock," said Lynn A. Moller, 49, who is charged with four counts of child abuse for alleged incidents in 2006 and 2008.

A jury hearing Moller's case will likely begin deliberations Thursday after closing arguments from defense attorney Eric Schulenburg and Assistant District Attorney Karie Cattanach. Both finished presenting their cases on Wednesday, although Cattanach might present brief rebuttal testimony Thursday.

The abuse case involves a 2-year-old boy who suffered unexplained injuries in 2008, allegedly while in Moller's care, and a 1-year-old boy whose parents noticed bruises on his scalp, face and left ear in 2006.

On the witness stand, Moller said that although it appeared she admitted some of the abuse to police,...

Rexahn submits Phase IIb erectile dysfunction protocol to FDA

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:14:00 +0000

Mar 04, 2010 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- Rexahn Pharmaceuticals has submitted a Phase IIb protocol to the FDA for Zoraxel for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, or ED.

The Phase IIb study will continue to assess Zoraxel's efficacy in approximately 225 male subjects, ages 18 to 65, with ED. The double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 12-week study will include the sexual encounter profile survey, International Index of Erectile Function and quality of life study endpoints and will be conducted at multiple sites in the US.

Data from the Phase IIa study completed in May 2009 reported that subjects treated with Zoraxel demonstrated improved erectile function and significant improvement in the quality of life measures. The study also found Zoraxel to be safe and well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.

Chang Ahn, CEO of Rexahn, said: "The progression of Zoraxel's clinical program is very encouraging. We believe that the future of ED treatment...

C.A.R.E. FLORIDA Updates Sex Rehab Program in Light of Recent Celebrity Outings

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000

C.A.R.E. FLORIDA Addiction treatment Center recently updated policies and program procedures to better accommodate a growing number of high profile individuals seeking treatment for Sex Addiction and other rising addiction occurrences. C.A.R.E. is a leader in addiction treatment of all types but has taken note of an industry-wide rise in the profile of clientele attending addiction treatment centers nationwide.

North Palm Beach, FL (PRWEB) March 4, 2010 -- C.A.R.E. (Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Education) of Florida is proud to announce a greater concentration on high-profile addiction treatment for gambling addiction , sex addiction and traditional drug & alcohol addiction. The C.A.R.E. drug rehab center in North Palm Beach Florida is a leader in treating a diverse array of addictions using ground breaking holistic healing methods and devices.

C.A.R.E.’s renewed commitment to treating the underlying factors that cause and trigger relapse is pared with new aspects of treating high-profile individuals who have more...

Man in Calif. teen case got light sentence in 2000

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:34:00 +0000

SAN DIEGO -- A sex offender suspected in the disappearance of Chelsea King served only five years in prison for molesting a girl a decade ago after prosecutors rejected a psychiatrist's advice to seek a stiffer punishment, court documents state.

Prosecutors said in 2000 that John Albert Gardner III's lack of significant prior criminal record justified less than the maximum sentence for molesting a 13-year-old girl.

They also said they wanted to "spare the victim the trauma of testifying."

The San Diego Union-Tribune said Tuesday that Gardner had faced a maximum of nearly 11 years in prison under terms of his plea agreement. Prosecutors urged six years _ the sentence later ordered by a judge.

In their 11-page sentencing memo, prosecutors said Gardner "never expressed one scintilla of remorse for his attack upon the victim" despite overwhelming evidence.

The girl was beaten before escaping from his home and running to a neighbor.

Psychiatrist Dr. Matthew...

SOCIAL STIGMA: Resisting Temptation: Sex addicts struggle to achieve healthy relationships, ...

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:50:00 +0000

Feb. 28--Name every highly addictive drug you can think of -- heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy -- Justin has used them all.

Each one causes its own distinctive high, some so powerful that the user can become instantly hooked. None of them made Justin feel as euphoric as the act of following a woman through a parking lot and flashing her as she got into her car.

He likens the feeling to snorting cocaine for the first time.

"I've done all kinds of different drugs and I can tell you, nothing produced the same kind of rush that exposing myself did," says Justin, 33.

Justin is a recovering sex addict and a member of the local chapter of Sex Addicts Anonymous, a support group modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous in which people practice 12 steps to recovery. He declines to give his last name, because he fears the social stigma of being labeled a sex...

Therapy lengthy for sex addiction [The Augusta Chronicle, Ga.]

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:20:00 +0000

Feb. 20--It might have struck some as a convenient excuse for Tiger Woods to explain his adultery, but sexual addiction is a very real problem, Augusta therapists say. It will likely mean he needs to face up to underlying issues and commit to a lifetime of work to get better, they say.

Woods admitted Friday to "repeated irresponsible behavior" in numerous affairs and said that he had unspecified inpatient treatment for 45 days, "receiving guidance for the issues I'm facing." He planned to return to therapy today.

Woods has been linked by tabloids with a sexual addiction treatment program in Hattiesburg, Miss. Dr. Connie Stapleton, a certified sex addiction therapist in Augusta, trained in Hattiesburg with that program's director, Dr. Patrick Carnes.

Treatment at the center will likely be both individual and group therapy, based in part on a 12-step method for addiction recovery, Stapleton said. Part of that will be dealing...

Public comments are Tiger's first step in healing himself [BC-GLF-SHARP-COLUMN:DE]

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:36:00 +0000

DETROIT _ Loathe him? Like him? It doesn't matter.

Nobody can say they don't care about Tiger Woods, because if you were anywhere near a television at 11 a.m. Friday, you watched. You couldn't deny the temptation of this surreal drama that even the best soap-opera writers can only dream of creating.

Broadcast networks and national cable news and sports network interrupted regular programming for Woods' first public appearance since a seemingly innocuous traffic accident near his Orlando home in the early-morning hours of Nov. 27 exploded into a litany of adulterous affairs that drove the world's greatest golfer away from the Tour indefinitely and diminished an impeccable public persona.

Would his wife, Elin, stand beside him? Would his face bear scars from alleged plastic surgery?

Woods' mea culpa looked and sounded sincere, but the contrived staging with reporters unable to ask questions and Woods reading from a written text gave the scene...

Psychologists disagree on whether sex addiction is real [The Sacramento Bee, Calif.]

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:42:00 +0000

Feb. 20--Sex addiction: Is it real?

In his public apology Friday for philandering, Tiger Woods mentioned spending 45 days in an in-patient treatment facility. It's been widely reported that the golfing star was at Pine Grove Behavioral Center in Mississippi, where the leading expert on sex addiction diagnosis and treatment directs therapy.

Woods has not admitted he's a sex addict, and even if he was, psychologists disagree as to whether the condition is a true pathological disorder.

"There's been a lot of hype about it and I think it's unproven at present," said Peter Nathan, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Iowa who specializes in alcoholism. "It's bad behavior, it's troublesome behavior, it gets people in a lot of trouble, but I can't say it forms to usual addictions."

Sex addiction isn't included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the standard for mental health workers. But "hypersexual...

Experts give Woods statement high marks

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:14:00 +0000

NEW YORK -- Experts in communication and branding found Woods to be generally honest, remorseful and sincere in his remarks Friday.

They liked his focus on taking ownership of his problems and protecting and defending his wife and kid, but some wished he'd said specifically when he'd return to golf.

Some of their views:

John Sweeney, director of sports communication at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication:

"I found his statement very human and very effective. The staging when first announced seemed calculated. However, when you saw that Tiger had to make these apologies directly to people while his mother watched, it took on a power and sincerity that couldn't be questioned.

His words were direct. None of the modern hedging and clever word twists that could be taken two ways. He took responsibility, showed remorse, and presented his behavior in stark terms."

Laura Ries, president of Ries...

Schwab to remain in jail until trial to determine whether he is a sexually dangerous person, ...

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:05:00 +0000

Feb. 19--Danny Schwab will remain in custody until a trial in May to determine whether he should be considered a sexually dangerous person under Illinois law.

Schwab waived the hearing before St. Clair County Associate Judge Laninya Cason which was held to determine whether Schwab should be paroled from state prison on Feb. 28 or held until the court can decide whether he is still a threat to youngsters. The Illinois Attorney General petitioned to have Schwab declared a sexually violent person who should be kept in state custody indefinitely.

Schwab will remain in Big Muddy Correction Center until his release date then will be transferred to Rushville Treatment and Detention Center under the operation of the Illinois Department of Human Services.

During this detention, Assistant Attorney General Terry Kaid told the judge that Schwab would receive another psychological evaluation. This evaluation will be used during the trial scheduled for May 3...

Tiger Woods apology well-received at Match Play [The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson]

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:35:00 +0000

Feb. 19--Tiger Woods apologized today for his behavior after nearly three months of scandal, but he gave no indication of when he will resume playing on the PGA Tour.

"I do plan to return to golf one day," he said in a heavily-controlled press statement broadcast live on TV and the Internet. "I just don't know when that day will be."

"I don't rule out that it will be this year."

Woods spoke for the first time since a Nov. 27 car crash outside his Florida home that led to a flood of accusations about extramarital affairs.

He spoke from the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass, the PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

He spoke for about 14 minutes and did not field questions.

"I was unfaithful," Woods said. "I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable, and I was the only person to blame."

Woods said he "convinced myself that normal...

WOODS: 'I WAS WRONG, I WAS FOOLISH'

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:12:00 +0000

Feb 19, 2010 (WENN via COMTEX) -- TIGER WOODS is heading back to rehab after taking time out from sex addiction therapy to address his fans, friends and the media about his bad behaviour in relation to a series of infidelities, which hit the headlines last year (Nov09).

During a 15-minute press conference at TPC Sawgrass, the home of the Professional Golf Association Tour, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, the sportsman spoke to a select, invitation-only group of friends, peers and journalists.

With his mother seated directly in front of him and wife Elin Nordegren nowhere to be seen, a stoic Woods said, "Many of you in this room are my friends, many in this room know me, many of you have cheered for me, worked with me or supported me. Now, every one of you has good reason to be critical of me... I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and...

Sex Addiction Expert Robert Weiss Applauds Tiger Woods, Notes the Five Things He Did Right

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:51:00 +0000

Founding director of Sexual Recovery Institute says Woods and other ‘sex addicts’ must focus on treatment not fame during 12 steps of recovery

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Following Tiger Woods’ statement this morning that he is returning to treatment for sexual addiction, Robert Weiss, a leading sex addiction expert and founding director of the Sexual Recovery Institute, issued this statement praising the golf legend for placing recovery over fame, and noting the “five things Tiger did right.”

...

State loses bid to commit man under sexual predator law [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:38:00 +0000

Feb. 19--A Waukesha County jury has determined that a former Town of Delafield man convicted of sexually assaulting a toddler in 1995 is not a sexually violent person and can be released.

Stanley R. Blodgett, 64, was sentenced in June 1996 for molesting the girl between November 1990 and May 1991, when she was 2- and 3-years-old.

Blodgett's wife had been babysitting the girl during that time.

He was scheduled to be released May 28, 2008, but the state filed a petition the previous April to have him named a sexually violent person, which could have sent him to a mental institution for the rest of his life.

The state contended Blodgett suffers from mental disorders that predispose him to acts of sexual violence against children and that he has the potential of reoffending.

Wisconsin's sexual predator law allows for the worst sex offenders to be held for treatment in a secure mental health...

New Research Shows Emotional Impact of Low Sexual Desire and Associated Distress on Women

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

RIDGEFIELD, CT, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- New findings from a European study show that women with low sexual desire and associated distress experience personal and emotional distress related to the sexual issue. The findings, presented today at the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH) 2010 Annual Meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla., are based on a survey of 5,098 women with low sexual desire and associated distress. In the study (DESIRE®), many women reported experiencing negative emotions, such as dissatisfaction with their sex life, guilt about sexual difficulties and distress about their sex life, frequently or always during the previous three months.

The DESIRE® (Desire and its Effects on female Sexuality Including Relationships) study identified 7,542 women with low sexual desire and associated distress. Among these women, 5,098 participated and were surveyed on a wide range of attitudes and behaviors relating to their experience of low...

Tiger Woods to break silence Friday

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:11:00 +0000

Tiger Woods, who has been out of the public eye since a November car wreck and subsequent allegations of infidelity, scheduled time Friday to make a statement.

Woods is to appear at the PGA's Florida headquarters at 11 a.m. EST Friday to make brief comments. Access to the session will be severely limited.

Woods issued statements through his Web site following an incident Nov. 27 in which his car was wrecked near his house and he was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

One of the comments he posted in December said, "I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children."

He said he was staying away from golf tournaments until personal issues with addressed.

Several women have claimed to have had affairs with Woods and the golfer reportedly spent time receiving treatment for sex addiction.

Boston Medical Group Releases Top Ten Myths About Sex

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:06:00 +0000

Boston Medical Group, a national physician network specializing in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, released ten of the top myths surrounding sex. From which gender spends the most time fantasizing to whether size really matters, the list covers some of the common misconceptions about time spent between the sheets (see also Boston Medical Group ).

"There are a lot of people out there that are misinformed about a number of aspects related to sex, from physical pleasure and chemistry right up to the facts about procreation," said Dr. Barry Buffman, a physician with Boston Medical Group. "Being knowledgeable and understanding the real facts is not only important because sex is such a vital part of our physical health and well-being - it actually increases the likelihood that your sex life will become more fulfilling and pleasurable."

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the top sex myths include: 1. Great sex...

John Terry 'to follow in Tiger Woods' footsteps, head to rehab'

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 05:01:00 +0000

London, Feb 14 (ANI): Sacked England captain John Terry could receive counselling similar to that which the world's top golfer, Tiger Woods, is having for sex addiction, it has emerged.

The Chelsea player might consider seeking professional help to deal with his off-the-pitch problems, reports The Daily Star.

Terry was recently caught in a storm after his alleged affair with French lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel, 33, the former girlfriend of team-mate Wayne Bridge became public.

It has also been suggested that Terry, 29, could take a brief break from football.

The 33-year-old golf star's clean-cut reputation was destroyed after the revelations that he'd had affairs with a string of women, including cocktail waitresses and party hostesses.

Since apologising publicly for 'letting his family down' the star has steered clear of the golf circuit but he is expected to return to the golfing circuit by Spring. (ANI)