Do you or does someone you love wonder if you have a sex addiction? Dr. Patrick Carnes developed several short but informative screenings to determine if there is an addiction or a concern present.

Self-Assessment 1

PATHOS is a brief sex addiction questionnaire. Each letter stands for the six assessment questions:

Preoccupied – Do you often find yourself with sexual thoughts?

Ashamed – Do you hide some of your sexual behavior from others?

Treatment – Have you ever sought therapy for sexual behavior you did not like?

Hurt Others – Has anyone been hurt emotionally because of your sexual behavior?

Out of Control – Do you feel controlled by your sexual desire?

Sad – When you have sex, do you feel depressed afterward

If you answered “yes” to three or more of the above questions, there may be a concern. Visit recoveryzone.com to take a more precise and free screening measure called the SAST-R (Sexual Addiction Screening Test-Revised).

Self-Assessment 2

In the most current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM 5), there are 11 criteria to determine if there is a substance use concern. If you have three or more, there could be an addiction present.

1. The substance (alcohol, opiates, cigarettes) is often taken in larger amounts and/or over a longer period than the patient intended.

2. There are persistent attempts or one or more unsuccessful efforts made to cut down or control substance use (substance use treatment, Alcoholics Anonymous, or Narcotics Anonymous).

3. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance, use the substance, or recover from effects.

4. There are cravings or strong desires to use the substance.

5. Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home (missing work due to hangovers, getting high or drunk at work).

6. Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social, or interpersonal problem caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (fights with family, separation from spouses).

7. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities given up or reduced because of substance use (not attending family functions, not spending time with friends).

8. Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (driving or using heavy machinery under the influence).

9. Substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (continuing to smoke or drink even with health problems as a result).

10. Tolerance, as defined by either of the following (a) Markedly increased amounts of the substance in order to achieve intoxication or desired effect (b) Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount.

11. Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following (a) The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance (b) The same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Source: (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association, 2013.)