The availability of internet-based pornography, especially among young adults, has raised concerns about its impact on health. There are no standardised diagnostic criteria for pornography addiction. Excessive internet pornography use is a new form of behavioural addiction, which differs from compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, as it is classified as an impulse control disorder rather than an addictive condition in the ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics Eleventh Revision). Pornography addiction is not officially recognised as a disease due to ongoing debates among researchers about its definition and nature. The study aimed to fill this gap by applying adapted DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [Fifth Edition]) criteria to assess “pornography-watching disorder” (PWD).
The study aimed to deepen the understanding of PWD as a behavioural addiction and apply DSM-5 criteria to assess PWD. The findings emphasise the need for standardised diagnostic tools for PWD and propose targeted interventions, especially for high-risk groups. These results add to the ongoing debate about whether pornography addiction should be recognised as a distinct behavioural disorder.
https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e49860
