What really drives sexual desire? We often rely on a handful of common assumptions about age, gender, and relationships to answer this question. But what happens when we peel back the layers and look at the science behind sex drive?

A groundbreaking study from the Estonian Biobank provides some of the clearest answers to date, challenging much of our conventional wisdom.

By analyzing data from over 67,000 participants (N = 67,334), researchers uncovered a complex tapestry of unseen forces shaping who wants sex and why. This article shares the most counter-intuitive findings from this massive study that are changing our understanding of human libido.

The Gender Gap in Desire is Wider and More Persistent Than we Thought

The first force this study brings into sharp focus is gender.

While it’s no secret that men, on average, report higher sex drive than women, this research revealed the difference to be exceptionally large and consistent across the lifespan.

In fact, the effect size found was even larger than those documented in previous large-scale meta-analyses. η² = 0.18, a large effect size indicating that gender alone explained a substantial 18% of the difference in desire.

This robust finding underscores just how profound and persistent the influence of gender is on libido. The study’s authors highlight the sheer magnitude of this difference across different life stages:

“Even the peak of average woman’s sexual desire at ages around 20 to 30 remains lower than men’s average levels across much of adulthood. It is only after the age of 60 + that men’s declining sexual desire falls below the highest levels ever reported by women.”

Furthermore, the research showed that this gap in desire actually widens with age, reaching its peak in the 60+ age group.

Men’s Sex Drive Peaks Surprisingly Late

We’re often told that a man’s sex drive is like a rocket. Supposedly peaking in his late teens and slowly coming down.

This study, however, suggests it’s more of a long climb to a high plateau.

Contrary to popular belief, men’s sexual desire actually peaked around their late 30s to early 40s. This finding was particularly surprising because it runs counter to what we know about male biology.

The researchers noted the unexpected nature of this pattern:

“A noteworthy finding was that men’s sexual desire peaked around the age of 40, exceeding even early adulthood levels… This pattern is surprising because it does not align with the well-documented trajectory of testosterone decline…”

This suggests that factors beyond simple biology are at play.

The researchers propose that men in this age group “are more likely to be in stable long-term relationships, which have been associated with increased sexual activity and emotional intimacy.”

In another fascinating hypothesis, they suggest that as men get older, their “levels of desire may be starting to adapt to their partner’s declining levels of desire,” which could help explain the drop-off in later life.

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Parenthood Affects Men and Women’s Desire in Opposite Ways

One of the most fascinating unseen forces revealed by the study was how parenthood impacts libido differently for men and women.

For men, having more children was consistently associated with higher sexual desire. This effect grew stronger with each additional child, with the largest positive association found in fathers with five children. β = 0.43, indicating a strong positive association between fatherhood of five children and higher desire compared to mothers.

This stands in stark contrast to the experience of women, where the demands of parenthood are frequently linked to a decline in desire. A trend also suggested by the study’s data.

The researchers speculate that this opposing effect may reflect:

“…gendered differences in parental roles, stress levels, time availability, and energy investment within a family.”

They also offer a thought-provoking alternative explanation: it’s possible that “higher levels of desire may contribute to men having more children” in the first place, showing the complex relationship between cause and effect.

Single People May Actually Have a Higher Sex Drive

It’s often assumed that being in a committed relationship is the key to a healthy sex drive.

At first glance, the data seemed to support this, showing that partnered people had slightly higher desire on average. But when the researchers used a more powerful statistical lens, controlling for factors like age and gender, the picture flipped.

Partnered individuals actually reported lower sexual desire compared to their single counterparts. β = −0.10, a small but statistically significant effect suggesting that, all else being equal, being in a relationship was linked to a slight decrease in desire.

This surprising result challenges the idea that a relationship automatically sustains high desire. The study’s authors suggest this could be related to habituation in long-term partnerships, a phenomenon that “particularly for women, points to the potential for habituation and shifts in relational dynamics over time.”

In other words, the comfort of a long-term relationship may sometimes come at the expense of novelty.

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Your Career Choice Could Be Linked to Your Libido

In perhaps the most novel finding, the study uncovered a remarkable link between a person’s occupation and their level of sexual desire. Simple averages suggested that people in manual-labor and military jobs had the highest libido, but the researchers quickly noted this was likely because those fields are dominated by younger men.

The real story emerged after controlling for factors like age and gender. The study then compared all occupations to a baseline group: senior managers. The results were clear:

• Lower Desire Occupations (Compared to Senior Managers): After accounting for other factors, nearly every other occupation was linked to significantly lower sexual desire. This effect was especially strong for elementary workers (β = -0.27), skilled workers and craftsmen (β = -0.19), and office and customer service workers (β = -0.16).

This highlights the often-overlooked connection between our professional lives, daily stress, and our personal well-being. It suggests that the pressures and routines of our jobs can be a powerful, hidden influence on our libido.

Conclusion: Rethinking What We Know About Sex Drive

This research paints a new picture where desire isn’t just a biological switch. It’s a dynamic outcome of a person’s age, gender, parental role, relationship status, and even their career.

The fact that these demographic and life factors alone could explain nearly 30% of the variance in sexual desire underscores just how profoundly they shape this fundamental human experience.

As we learn more about the complex web of factors that shape our desires, how might we change the conversations we have about sexuality in our own relationships?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

For an in-depth guide on talking to your adolescents about cybersex and pornography, check out Dr. Jen’s book. Amazon | BookBaby

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Then you should consult with a professional.

Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.

The Study

Below is the study this post was based on for those who’d like to further explore these revelations about Sex Drive.

The post Sex Drive: 5 Surprising Facts from a 67k Person Study first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.

When you picture someone with a gambling disorder, a specific image might come to mind. But what if that stereotype is outdated and dangerously incomplete?

A groundbreaking new study from an innovative program in Madrid called ‘Adcom’ reveals that the digital age is forging a new, more complex, and more hidden type of gambling addict. This research, based on hundreds of individuals who sought help voluntarily. And it challenges our most common assumptions about who is affected and why. 

This article shares the most impactful and counter-intuitive findings from this research.

Prepare to see what gambling addiction really looks like today.

1. It’s Rarely Just About Gambling: The Hidden Mental Health Crisis

One of the study’s most critical findings is the extremely high rate at which Gambling Disorder co-occurs with other serious mental health conditions.

This situation, known as “Gambling Dual Disorder (GDD),” suggests that gambling is not an isolated issue. It’s a symptom of a much larger mental health struggle. 

Among the participants who self-referred for a gambling problem, the numbers were stark: 

• 57.4% showed evidence of other psychopathological symptoms. 
• 64.9% experienced significant symptoms of depression.
• 51.3% were at risk for an anxiety disorder.
• 37.4% screened positive for ADHD.

This reframes gambling not as a simple lack of willpower, but as a complex disorder deeply intertwined with a person’s overall mental well-being. To be effective, treatment cannot just focus on the gambling; it must address these co-occurring conditions as well. 

Gambling Disorder can be defined as “persistent and recurrent problematic gambling that leads to significant impairment or distress”.

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2. The Digital Divide: Online and Offline People with Gambling Disorder Are Strikingly Different People

This complex mental health picture becomes even more fragmented when we look at where the gambling happens. A divide that is creating two entirely different profiles of addiction.

The study revealed significant and clear differences between online gambling versus those who struggled with offline gambling. The most compelling demographic contrasts paint a clear picture: 

• Age: The average online gambler was 30.6 years old, a full generation younger than the average offline gambler at 43.4 years old.
• Gender: While men were the majority in both groups, the disparity was much greater online. Only 5.3% of online gamblers were female, compared to 20.5% of offline gamblers.
• Prior Treatment: Individuals with offline gambling problems were far more likely to have previously sought help for a mental health issue (62.1%) than those with online problems (42.9%). 

These differences are profound.

Technology has fractured the landscape of addiction. It’s created a younger, more isolated cohort that is harder to reach.

The fact that this online group has had significantly less prior contact with mental health services suggests a new, underserved population. A population that may not be captured by traditional outreach and may be less aware of their own underlying conditions.

More About Gambling Disorder

3. A Shocking Connection: Gambling Disorder and Compulsive Buying Go Hand-in-Hand

Perhaps the single most surprising finding was the powerful link between Gambling Disorder and another behavioral addiction: compulsive buying.

The study found that compulsive buying was a potential problem in an astonishing 85.2% of participants. 

Breaking this down even further, for 57.7% of the entire group, the existence of a compulsive buying problem was considered “very probable/sure.” 

This is highly counter-intuitive.

While both behaviors involve money, they are often viewed as completely separate issues. This powerful correlation is not just a quirky finding. It’s evidence that Gambling Disorder may be part of a broader spectrum of impulse-control disorders rooted in similar neurological pathways. It highlights a shared underlying mechanism related to the brain’s reward system and the cycle of financial distress and emotional coping.

4. Your Background and Other Vices Can Predict How You Gamble

The study went beyond simple descriptions to identify factors that could predict whether a person was more likely to struggle with online versus offline gambling. This analysis revealed a complex interplay of cultural factors, lifestyle, and co-occurring disorders that shape a person’s specific addictive behaviors. 

The research identified several key predictors: 

• Being born in Spain increased the odds of having an online gambling problem by more than five times.
• Excessive Internet use nearly tripled the odds of having an online gambling problem.
• Conversely, having a co-occurring alcohol addiction or an eating disorder significantly reduced the odds of having an online problem, making it far more likely the gambling problem was offline.

These points reveal that the specific form an addiction takes is not random. It is shaped by a combination of a person’s environment, other behaviors, and personal history.

Conclusion: A New Call for Awareness of Gambling Disorder

The message from this research is clear: the digital age has forged a new profile of gambling addiction that is younger, more hidden, and more complex. The old stereotypes simply don’t fit the modern reality. 

Innovative programs like Adcom, which lower the barriers to seeking help, are not only crucial for providing treatment but also for gathering the vital data needed to truly understand the problem. This new knowledge allows for better prevention, more targeted interventions, and a more compassionate public understanding of a deeply challenging disorder. 

Knowing that online addiction strikes a younger group with less mental health history, how must we radically change our outreach to find and help this hidden population before it’s too late?

How do you view gambling disorder after reading this article? Let us know in the comments!

Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Then you should consult with a professional.

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The post Gambling Disorder: 4 Truths from a Groundbreaking New Study first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.

Beyond Addiction

When we talk about porn use, the conversation often gets stuck in simple, black-and-white narratives of morality or addiction. We tend to focus on how much someone is watching, rather than asking a more fundamental question: why? While these discussions are common, they often miss a deeper, more nuanced psychological story that’s playing out behind our screens. 

What if our relationship with pornography isn’t just a habit, but a reflection of our most basic patterns of connecting with other people? This is the central idea behind attachment theory. It suggests that our earliest bonds with caregivers shape how we approach intimacy, trust, and emotional closeness throughout our lives. These deep-seated patterns are known as our “attachment style.” 

A recent systematic review of 10 scientific studies has begun to connect these dots. It’s uncovered surprising links between our attachment styles and our pornography habits.

This article explores the four most impactful takeaways from that research.

It reveals how our fundamental needs for connection, and our fears of rejection, can shape what happens when we’re alone with a screen.

1. For some men, porn use is linked to better relationship satisfaction

Attachment styles are patterns in how we connect with others, stemming from our early life experiences. “Anxious attachment” style, for example, creates a deep desire for intimacy but lives with a persistent fear of rejection or abandonment. 

Counterintuitively, one major study reviewed by the researchers (Maas et al., 2018) found that for men with this anxious attachment style, porn use was actually associated with higher relationship satisfaction.

This finding becomes even more striking when contrasted with the results for women in the same study.

For anxiously attached women, porn use was associated with lower relationship satisfaction.

This sharp gender difference underscores a crucial point: the effects of pornography are not one-size-fits-all.

They are deeply intertwined with our individual psychology, our gender, and our attachment style. This suggests that for anxious men, pornography might act as a low-stakes supplement that doesn’t trigger their core fear of abandonment. Whereas, for anxious women, it may directly activate it.

Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses?

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2. Problematic porn use can be a way to cope with a fear of real intimacy

The review highlights a powerful theme: for those with insecure attachment styles, pornography offers a sense of connection without the perceived risks of real-world emotional intimacy.

This is particularly true for individuals with an avoidant attachment style. They often fear being engulfed by a relationship and losing their independence. Research shows that for this group, addictive cybersex use can become a direct substitute for the emotional closeness they find threatening. 

While both anxious and avoidant individuals may turn to pornography, their motivations often differ.

Someone with an avoidant style might use it to replace an intimacy they fear. However, someone with an anxious style might use it to soothe anxiety about a connection they crave.

In both cases, porn use can become a substitute for genuine connection when real relationships feel too overwhelming. 

The review synthesizes this concept perfectly: 

When people with insecure attachments use pornography to satisfy their relational needs of comfort, they engage in little or less emotional closeness and commitment, which allays their worries of abandonment and separation. 

This reframes problematic use not merely as an addiction, but as a potentially maladaptive strategy for managing deep-seated relational fears of either being left alone or being consumed by another.

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3. For anxiously attached women, porn use is linked to body insecurity; specifically when they’re in a relationship

Another study in the review (Gerwitz-Meydan et al., 2021) uncovered a highly specific link for women with an anxious attachment style.

For these women, an association between their attachment style and porn use was found only if they were currently in a relationship. For single women with the same attachment style, there was no significant association. 

The research identified a crucial factor driving this connection: body image self-consciousness. The study found that pornography use acted as a mediator between anxious attachment and body image issues.

In simple terms, this means that for anxiously attached women in a relationship, viewing pornography may trigger or intensify insecurities about their own bodies.

This, in turn, can activate their underlying attachment-related fears of being inadequate for their partner. Porn use directly threatens their sense of security and stoking their core fear of abandonment.

Do you believe you have an online pornography addiction? Take the free Cyber Pornography Addiction Test (CYPAT) and have the results to speak with your therapist.

4. There’s a psychological link between ADHD, both anxious and avoidant attachment, and compulsive porn use.

The review also sheds light on the intersection of attachment, neurodiversity, and pornography.

One study (Niazof et al., 2019) found that problematic pornography use in men with ADHD was linked to both anxious and avoidant attachment styles, but in different ways.

Higher levels of anxious attachment were linked to excessive pornography use, while avoidant attachment was associated with higher levels of problematic use. 

The researchers point to a potential explanation for this link: the “incentive deficit” that is often a characteristic of ADHD.

This concept suggests that individuals with ADHD may be more drawn to highly stimulating, novel, and instantly gratifying behaviors. It helps ADHD porn users to compensate for a brain that may be under-stimulated by everyday rewards. 

When combined with insecure attachment, this creates a potent mix.

For the anxiously attached man with ADHD, pornography might serve as an easily accessible tool to soothe relational anxiety.

For the avoidantly attached man with ADHD, it may be a compelling substitute for the real-world intimacy he fears. It fulfills a need for stimulation without triggering his fear of closeness.

Conclusion: Beyond How Much to Why

The research clearly shows that our relationship with pornography is more complex than self-control or moral standing.

It can be a powerful and often unconscious reflection of our deepest relational patterns. It reveals our unmet needs for connection, and our most profound fears of intimacy and rejection. 

This perspective invites us to shift the conversation.

Instead of focusing solely on the behavior itself, perhaps the more important question to ask is: What deeper needs and fears is this behavior trying to meet?

Share how this post spoke to you, or about someone you love. Do you believe you use pornography to compensate for your attachment style? Why or why not?

Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.

Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Consult with a professional.

The post 4 Ways Porn Use is Shaped by Relationship Fears first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.

The Surprising Psychology of Sports Gambling 

Are you thinking about placing a little wager on a football game this holiday season? With the rapid growth and normalization of sports gambling across the United States and Canada, betting on a game is more common than ever. But what are the real reasons people gamble?

Most would assume it’s simply for fun, to make a game more exciting, or for the chance to win money. But what if the most important metric for gambling risk isn’t on a bank statement, but in the unseen emotions driving the bet? 

A recent study of over 900 sports bettors reveals a more complex picture, uncovering deeper psychological motivations that separate casual fun from problematic behavior. The findings challenge our basic assumptions about gambling risk. This article will break down the five most impactful takeaways from this research, revealing that the “why” behind a bet is far more important than the “how much.” 

1. Your Reason for Betting Matters More Than How Much You Spend 

One of the study’s most unexpected findings was the relationship between mental health, betting habits, and gambling problems. The research showed that greater anxiety and depression were strongly linked to the severity of a person’s gambling problems. However, these emotional states were not significantly related to the total amount of money a person spent or the total number of bets they made. 

This insight reframes how we should think about risk. It’s not just about the financial footprint of betting, but the emotional impetus behind it. 

According to the study, the true indicator of risk isn’t found in a bettor’s bank statement, but in the emotional state that drives them to bet in the first place. 

This is a critical distinction. It shifts the focus from a purely financial view of problem gambling to a psychological one, suggesting that the “why” you bet is a more telling sign of risk than the “how much” you spend.

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2. The Crucial Difference: Gambling for Fun vs. Betting to Escape

The study identified two key motivations that drive people to bet, each with vastly different outcomes: 

• Enhancement Motives: Betting to increase positive emotions. This is the classic reason—placing a wager to add to the thrill and enjoyment of watching a game. 
• Coping Motives: Betting to reduce or escape from negative feelings, such as anxiety, stress, or depression. 

The results linked to each motive were counter-intuitive.

This revealed a fascinating paradox: while betting to enhance the fun of a game was linked to placing bets more often, it was simultaneously associated with fewer gambling problems. This suggests a clear psychological dividing line between frequent, low-risk engagement and problematic, high-risk behavior. 

In stark contrast, betting to cope was the single strongest pathway linking pre-existing anxiety and depression to serious gambling problems.

Crucially, this connection held true even when the researchers accounted for other potential drivers like betting for social or financial reasons, isolating ‘coping’ as the most dangerous motivation. This finding strongly supports the “emotionally vulnerable pathway” model of problem gambling, where individuals use gambling as a maladaptive strategy to manage emotional distress. 

3. “In-Play” Gambling Is a Different Beast Entirely

“In-play” sports betting, defined as making wagers during a live game, has exploded in popularity. The study’s findings on this specific group were stark. Compared to bettors who only place wagers before a game starts (single-event or traditional bettors), in-play bettors reported: 

• Significantly higher levels of problem gambling.
• Significantly higher scores for both anxiety and depression.
• A higher frequency of betting.

This raises a critical question for researchers: does the high-speed, constant-feedback nature of in-play betting actively create psychological distress, or does it primarily attract individuals already struggling with anxiety and depression who are seeking a powerful distraction? 

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As professionals, our time is valuable. Dr. Weeks created the Mitigation Aide Research Archive because there isn’t enough focused, data-backed research available in easily digestible formats.

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4. For Sports Bettors, Anxiety and Depression Are Often Intertwined 

The research observed that in this sample of sports bettors, depression and anxiety were “highly correlated.” In simple terms, participants who scored high on one tended to score high on the other. 

The researchers noted that this suggests these conditions are more likely to be comorbid—or occur together—in people who bet on sports. The connection was so strong that the effects of anxiety and depression on gambling behaviors often overlapped. This reinforces the concept of a combined “emotional vulnerability” that can fuel problematic gambling, rather than a single, isolated mental health issue.

5. The Psychological Blueprint Is Surprisingly Consistent Across Genders

The study also examined differences between men and women, revealing a nuanced picture. On the surface, there were clear differences in behavior and emotional states: 

• Men engaged in sports betting on significantly more days than women.
• Women reported significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and betting for social and coping reasons.

Despite these differences in emotional states and motivations, men and women reported statistically similar levels of overall gambling problems. 

The more profound finding was that despite these surface-level differences, the underlying psychological model was the same for both groups.

The core pathways showing how anxiety, depression, and motives lead to gambling problems did not differ between men and women. This suggests that when it comes to the fundamental emotional drivers of problem gambling, gender may not change the blueprint. Interventions, therefore, can likely focus on these consistent psychological drivers for everyone. 

Conclusion

This research cuts through the noise of wins, losses, and dollar amounts to deliver a clear message:

Understanding the motivation behind gambling is the key to understanding the risk of it becoming a problem.

While many people bet to enhance their enjoyment of a sport with few negative consequences, the data points to a clear red flag:

The strongest pathway to serious gambling problems isn’t rooted in how much money is spent, but in whether the bettor is motivated by a need to cope with or escape from negative emotions. 

Before placing your next bet, it might be worth asking: am I doing this to enhance my fun, or to escape my feelings?

Drop a comment and let us know if you were able to identify any motivations you may have for acting out this holiday season.

Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses? Then you should stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Then you should consult with a professional.

Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.

The post Holiday Gambling: Why You Bet Matters More Than How Much first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.

More Than a Buzz, According to a Major New Study

As cannabis continues to be legalized for recreational and medical use across North America, public debate often centers on its benefits, risks, and social implications. This has become a public health priority. It’s sparking discussions about everything from tax revenue to addiction potential. Lost in the noise, however, is a more nuanced and critical question: what are the lasting, residual effects on the brain not just from using cannabis, but from developing a Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD)? 

For years, research has been muddled by controversy. Some studies suggest significant cognitive decline. Others finding only minimal effects.

A major reason for this confusion is many studies lump together recreational users with those who have a clinical disorder. A new, large-scale meta-analysis published in the journal Addictive Behaviors cuts through this ambiguity by focusing specifically on individuals diagnosed with CUD. 

This article distills the four most important takeaways from this major review. Here’s some clear, evidence-based answers on how Cannabis Use Disorder leaves a measurable mark on our cognitive abilities.

1. Cannabis Use Disorder Isn’t Just a Label—It’s a Critical Distinction 

Much of the confusion around cannabis’s long-term cognitive effects comes from studies that don’t distinguish between recreational use and a clinical disorder. This new meta-analysis makes that distinction its central focus, and the results are revealing. 

The core finding is that while recreational use may be associated with minimal or small deficits, Cannabis Use Disorder is linked to clear, moderate cognitive impairments.

The researchers draw a parallel to alcohol consumption. The cognitive impact seen in individuals with alcohol use disorder is significantly larger than what is observed in those who drink recreationally. 

This distinction is the key that unlocks the rest of the study’s findings. Now that we’ve isolated the CUD population, the next question is: what exactly does this impairment look like? 

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2. The Damage Is Specific, Not Widespread

The cognitive impact of CUD isn’t a blunt, uniform fog across the entire brain. Instead, the meta-analysis shows that the impairments are concentrated in specific domains. The study found “small-to-moderate” impairments across several areas, with the largest deficits observed in five key domains: 

• IQ: The most significant deficit found. It reflects a moderate impairment in overall cognitive reasoning and problem-solving abilities. 
• Verbal Learning: The ability to learn and absorb new information presented through words. It manifests as an impairment making it harder to retain material from a lecture or meeting. 
• Verbal Memory: The capacity to recall that learned verbal information later. A deficit can manifest as struggling to remember conversations or key details from something you’ve read. 
• Working Memory: The mental “scratchpad” used for holding and manipulating information for short-term tasks. Impairment here makes it harder to follow multi-step instructions or perform mental calculations. 
• Speed of Processing: How quickly you can perceive, process, and respond to information. A deficit can slow down reaction times and the ability to keep up in fast-paced conversations or environments.

To emphasize this specificity, the study also identified the cognitive domains that were least affected.

Among them were attention and verbal fluency; the ability to retrieve words from your mind. This targeted impact suggests a more complex mechanism than simple, widespread damage.

3. The Impact of Cannabis Use Disorder Is Comparable to “Harder” Drugs

In a finding that challenges longstanding public perception, the study reveals how the cognitive deficits from CUD stack up against those from other substance use disorders.

The research shows that the magnitude of the impairments in verbal memory and working memory for individuals with CUD is in a similar range to the deficits seen in people with alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine use disorders. 

However, a critical distinction adds another layer of complexity.

One important difference is that CUD is associated with less diffuse cognitive deficits. While the depth of impairment in those specific memory-related areas is comparable to other substance use disorders, the overall breadth of cognitive damage appears to be narrower. 

This directly challenges the common perception of cannabis as a relatively benign substance. Especially when its use escalates to the level of a disorder. The researchers highlight the importance of this finding for how the scientific and medical communities view the substance. 

“The similitude of findings between substances confirms the importance of paying attention to individuals with a CUD when studying the residual cognitive effects of cannabis.”

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4. It Presents a Surprising Scientific Mystery

The targeted nature of these cognitive deficits presents a fascinating paradox for neuroscientists.

The primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, Δ9-THC, acts on the brain’s CB1 receptors. From a biological standpoint, this is significant because, as the paper notes, CB1 receptors are “among the most abundant throughout the brain.” 

Based on that fact, scientists would expect that chronic, heavy cannabis use would cause diffuse, widespread cognitive effects across many domains.

Yet, as this meta-analysis confirms, the effects are actually quite specific.

This discrepancy suggests the full story is more complex than we currently understand. The authors propose this paradox “indirectly suggests that other cannabinoid receptors than CB1 receptors are mediating the cognitive effects of cannabis,” pointing toward an important new direction for future research.

Conclusion: A Sobering Reminder in the Age of Legalization

This comprehensive meta-analysis sends a clear message: Cannabis Use Disorder is not a trivial condition.

It is linked to real, measurable, and moderate cognitive deficits in crucial areas like memory, processing speed, and overall IQ.

Furthermore, these deficits are not insignificant when compared to those associated with other well-known substance use disorders. 

The study’s authors point to a pressing public health concern, noting that “the perceived risk associated with regular cannabis use has been declining in youths since the legalization of the substance.”

While the policy debates will surely continue, this research provides a sobering reminder that the conversation must include a clear-eyed view of the consequences that arise when use crosses the line into a disorder. 

As the perception of risk declines, the critical public health challenge becomes clear: how do we effectively communicate the line between casual use and the measurable cognitive costs of a disorder?

Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses? Then you should stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!

Are you looking for more reputable, data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.

The post 4 Surprising Ways Cannabis Use Disorder Impacts the Brain first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.

In the psychological community, there is often an assumption that people who enjoy being spanked, and engage in other BDSM behaviors, are doing so based on some pathology. This stems from the lack of knowledge about BDSM that most therapists have. 

Research by “kink aware” therapists is growing in this area to combat the stigma.

But Why Being Spanked, Specifically?

One question often posed is why do people enjoy BSDM behaviors, including spanking, flogging, restraint, and domination?   

Labrecque and colleagues thought the best way to answer that question was to ask people in the lifestyle directly. 

The authors analyzed survey responses posted on kink forums for these two questions.

1. In your opinion, what are the origins of your attraction to m/s (masochism and sadism)
2. Why are you practicing M/S? 

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A Study on Sadism and Masochism

Here is what the respondents had to say. 

The majority of M/S practitioners who answered the survey felt that their attraction to the behavior was intrinsic, meaning that the interest emerged at a young age and were not the result of an external experience. 

Though many of these folks knew they had this attraction when they were young, it often took them to adulthood to accept the interest. 

The percentage of those who felt that the origin of this M/S interest was extrinsic was much smaller (22%) with 11% of those individuals reporting that external event was childhood sexual abuse.  

There were three main reasons given for why people engaged in M/S play.

1. Playing with interpersonal power.  This was either through giving or exchanging power with someone else. In this, there is a large importance placed on trusting the play partner and consent. 
2. Receiving physical pain.  Many of these individuals enjoy the painful feeling for itself both in and outside of sexual contexts. 
3. Altering state of consciousness.  Many individuals enjoyed M/S play as a means to alter their mental state.   

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Check out the latest research on fetishes and criminality:

• Criminal Histories and Recidivism Rates for Juveniles Convicted of Child Pornography Possession

Read more articles about BDSM.

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How Should Therapists Respond to Their Clients’ Interest in Being Spanked?

The reasons for engaging in M/S behaviors are personal and individual to each practitioner.   

Mental health professionals should not assume that interest in these behaviors is indicative of a mental health concern. 

If the client brings up the behaviors, the best course of action is to investigate the meaning of the behavior to that person and why they enjoy it. 

If the client doesn’t have a concern about their kinky behavior, we should not make it the focus of therapy, which sometimes happens due to a therapist’s own personal biases.   

Reference: Frédérike Labrecque, Audrey Potz, Émilie Larouche & Christian C. Joyal (2021) What Is So Appealing About Being Spanked, Flogged, Dominated, or Restrained? Answers from Practitioners of Sexual Masochism/Submission, The Journal of Sex Research, 58:4, 409-423, DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2020.1767025 

Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Then you should consult with a professional.

The post What’s so Appealing About Being Spanked? first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.

For a number of years, I have subscribed to the Wall Street Journal. Not because I have interest in investing, but to stay up-to-date on trends that affect the business of mental health.

Specifically, I can have leading edge info on the ways that technology can be abused in the realm of my work: addiction and forensic psychology. 

For fun, I thought I would do a recap of the business side of mental health from the WSJ.

Cerebral

Oh boy, have they been in the news all month.

First, if you have not heard of Cerebral, here is a little recap. Cerebral is a mental health company that really capitalized on the telehealth trend that exploded during the pandemic. Cerebral has a network of doctors all over the United States that will do telehealth appointments and prescribe medications. According to their website, they treat anxiety, ADHD, Depression, Insomnia, and bipolar disorder.

From the outside, this really looks fantastic. Many people cannot access psychiatrist. For example, in my geographic area the wait for a psychiatrist can be months. So, having nearly instant access to a psychiatrist can really open up care and convenience for a lot of people. 

However, it has not all been sunshine and roses. 

The WSJ initially ran a story in March. Some Cerebral prescribers felt they were pressured to prescribe stimulants to patients. And the 30 minute patient evaluation wasn’t a long enough to accurately diagnose an individual. 

Some major pharmacies stopped filling prescriptions that were prescribed by Cerebral’s doctors.

In the beginning of May, the company received a subpoena from the Federal Prosecutor’s office. From what I have seen, there has been no official statement made from either side. The main issue was the prescribing of medication for ADHD, which is a stimulant and a controlled substance.

By the end of May, Walmart and CVS decided, among others, stopped filling controlled substance prescriptions from Cerebral prescribers.

Presumably, as a result of all of the bad press, questionable practices, and investigation by the Federal government, the company replaced CEO Kyle Robertson. A move that he calls illegal. At the same time, the company stated it would stop prescribing most controlled substances.  

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Potential Outcomes

This story continues to unfold and continues to be featured in the WSJ. It will be interesting to observe the outcome. 

When the government initially addressed the opiate epidemic they increased the oversight of the prescribing practices of doctors. 

No one is claiming there is an Adderall epidemic, but those in the field know it is a medication that’s frequently abused. It’s nice to see the government taking oversight seriously. The result is many people are in a position where they don’t have easy access to address their need for medication.

Anti-Addiction Medication

In the middle of May, the WSJ published an article that looked at the use of injectable drugs for mental health conditions. For example, Vivitrol for alcohol addiction or antipsychotic medications for bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. 

The injectables are often used with individuals who may be prone to miss appointments. Additionally, some may not be consistent with a pill regime. Others may be prone to stop taking necessary medication abruptly. From a business perspective, the injectables cost significantly more than the same medications in pill form.

Thousands of dollars more.  

Scientific research indicates that the use of the injectables reduces risk of hospitalization or relapse significantly. But it does not have any better effect on outcomes such as quality of life and cognitive function. 

Again, due to access to healthcare during the pandemic and what feels like a shortage of mental healthcare availability, many doctors are turning to injectable medications as opposed to pill forms. From a business perspective, this is costing insurance companies significantly more money and it is not really certain that the benefits fit the extreme different in cost. 

Are you a Licensed Professional Counselor in need of continuing education? Learn more about Sex Addiction, Erotic Conflict, and Moral Incongruence from Dr. Weeks and Sexual Addiction Treatment Services, an NBCC ACEP™ approved provider!

Sexual Addiction Treatment Services has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7250. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Sexual Addiction Treatment Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Psychiatric Assessments Questioned

The last article from May in the WSJ I am going to discuss is a bit near and dear to my profession. As someone who conducts psychosexual evaluations, I use risk assessment measures often as well as various and sundry other psychological tests. 

On May 20^th, in response to the horrific shooting in Buffalo, New York, the WSJ ran an article discussing the fact that the shooter had been evaluated for mental health issues at a hospital and was not held on an involuntary commitment.

According to various news sources, last year in school, the shooter had made a comment in an online class stating that he wanted to kill himself and others. As is both legally mandated and necessary, he was brought to a hospital for an evaluation to see if he was a risk to himself or others. The shooter claimed that the statement was a joke and was released, not being deemed a danger. 

The fact that he went on to follow through on his threat to hurt others has many people questioning the assessment he received in the hospital last year. Perhaps in defense of my profession, what most people do not know is that we cannot invoke an involuntary mental health hold on a person unless they meet certain standards. While these vary from state to state, they all have some similarities.  

The Human Cost of the Business of Mental Health

There is one landmark ruling that all mental health professionals are familiar with: the Tarasoff case which dictates duty to protect requirements. This is actually a case from 1976 from California, where a client told his therapist that he intended to kill Ms. Tarasoff. The psychologist did not warn Ms. Tarsasoff and she was later killed. When the case finally had its final ruling (after appeals) it was found that a therapist has a duty to warn an individual that is threatened by a patient. However, that individual must be identifiable. So, I can surmise, that the Buffalo shooter’s statement that he was going to kill people did not meet the Tarasoff ruling as there was no identifiable victim.

An Inexact Science

As to determining someone’s risk of harm to themselves or others, as the doctor’s quoted in the article state, it is an inexact science. 

We have no assessment, test or measure that can accurately predict this. Many clients can learn the right words to say to avoid commitment. With due reason, doctors are not allowed to indiscriminately hold people in the hospital on a psych hold without defensible cause as this would be a violation of their human rights. 

Since there is no true test of dangerousness to self or others and we cannot simply detain people because we want to, we are left in the unsatisfying position of letting potentially dangerous people go home. 

Sometimes this has catastrophic consequences.

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Consult with a professional.

Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.

Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.

The post The Business of Mental Health first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.

Therapists who work with problematic sexual behavior often say, me included, that we are worried about kids being exposed to pornography at an early age or are learning about sex from porn. 

Anecdotally, we know that young children have access to pornography of any theme, including violent pornography, child pornography, etc., and it scares us. We don’t want kids learning that this is what live sex with a real partner looks like. What we don’t actually have is the science to either back up or refute out fears. 

What does the research say about kids learning about sex from porn?

Rothman et al, in a research article published in 2021 in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, sought to address this lack of research by surveying American adolescents (600 14–17-year-olds) and young adults (666 18-24 year old) to find out where they found helpful sexual education material and what made some of them find pornography to be the most helpful. 

The survey respondents were asked the following questions, where did they find sources of helpful information to learn about sex? Did they receive helpful information about sexual health from their parents? What sexual experiences have they had? What is their relationship status as well as general demographic characteristics? 

The study found that when parents had not talked to their adolescent about sex in at least a year, the child was more likely to perceive pornography as a helpful source of information about sex.

Do you believe you have an online pornography addiction? Then take this free Cyber Pornography Addiction Test (CYPAT) and have the results to speak with your therapist.

So, do we really have cause to worry? The study found that among the adolescents, the two most frequent sources of helpful information about sex came from parents (31%) and peers (21.6%). Very few of the adolescents (8.4%) stated that they found helpful information from pornography.  

The data from the young adults was quite different. Among the 18- to 24-year-old respondents, they thought the most helpful information about sex was from pornography (24.5%) with sexual peers as a source of helpful information coming in as a close second (24.1%).

My Analysis

As a treatment provider and someone who has written about the effects of cybersex on teens, what disturbs me the most is the finding that 43% of the adolescents and 45% of the young adults in the survey reported that they did not receive any helpful information about sex from any source in the year prior. This means that many of the individuals are likely sexually active and not accessing or being provided important healthy sexuality education.

Are you a Licensed Professional Counselor in need of continuing education? Learn more about Sex Addiction, Erotic Conflict, and Moral Incongruence from Dr. Weeks and Sexual Addiction Treatment Services, an NBCC ACEP™ approved provider!

Sexual Addiction Treatment Services has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7250. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Sexual Addiction Treatment Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

For those of us who are worried that adolescents are looking to pornography for sexual education, we can perhaps take the fear down a notch. The authors concluded, based at least on their study respondents, that adolescents do not consider pornography as the most helpful resource for information about sex. 

The Key Takeaway

Here is the tidbit from the study I like the most. The study found that when parents had not talked to their adolescent about sex in at least a year, the child was more likely to perceive pornography as a helpful source of information about sex. This means that parents need to be having continual conversations with their adolescents about sex and sexual health. A one and done conversation is NOT optimal and may influence a child to look to pornography for information.

Reference: Rothman, E.F., Beckmeyer, J.J., Herbenick, D., Fu, T-C., Dodge, B., & Fortenberry, J.D. (2021). The prevalence of using pornography for information about how to have sex:  Findings from a nationally representative survey of U.S. adolescents and young adults.  Archives of Sexual Behavior, doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01877-7

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Consult with a professional.

For an in-depth guide on talking to your adolescents about cybersex and pornography, check out Dr. Jen’s book. Amazon | BookBaby

Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.

The post Are Kids Learning About Sex from Porn? first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.