Patrick Carnes (born 1944) is an American proponent of the viewpoint that some sexual behavior is an

addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a drug or engage in a behavior that produces natural reward, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use can ...

. According to CBS News, he popularized the term

sex addiction Sexual addiction is a state characterized by compulsive participation or engagement in sexual activity, particularly sexual intercourse, despite negative consequences. The concept is contentious; sexual addiction is not a clinical diagnosis in ...

. He created the

International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals The International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP) is one of the most well-known, for-profit organizations that provides training and certification for licensed and interned mental health professionals who want to treat s ...

(IITAP), as well as numerous addiction treatment facilities, and created the CSAT certification.

Education and career

Carnes received a Ph.D. in counselor education and organizational development from the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

in 1980. He was awarded the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award of the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH), formerly known as National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (NCSAC). Each year, SASH bestows a ''Carnes Award'' to deserving researchers and clinicians who have made outstanding contributions to the field of sexual medicine. He has worked in the field of

sexual addiction Sexual addiction is a state characterized by compulsive participation or engagement in sexual activity, particularly sexual intercourse, despite negative consequences. The concept is contentious; sexual addiction is not a clinical diagnosis in ...

in a number of other capacities, including as clinical director for sexual disorder services at The Meadows in Wickenburg, Arizona,

editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The editor-in-chief heads all departments of the organization and is held accoun ...

of '' Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention'' (official journal of the National Council of Sexual Addiction/Compulsivity), board member of the National Council of Sexual Addiction/Compulsivity organization, advisor on the national advisory board of the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders. Carnes is the Founder and Senior Consultant of the Gentle Path at The Meadows program located in Wickenburg, Arizona. Carnes is the founder of the

Theories and criticism

Carnes attributes the source of the addictions to the addict's belief system. He believes that a fundamental momentum for the addiction is provided by "certain core beliefs" that are wrong or incorrect. "Generally, addicts do not perceive themselves as worthwhile persons. Nor do they believe that other people would care for them or meet their needs if everything was known about them, including the addiction. Finally, they believe that sex is their most important need. Sex is what makes isolation bearable. If you do not trust people, one thing that is true about sex – and alcohol, food, gambling, and risk – is that it always does what it promises--for the moment. Thus, as in our definition of addiction, the relationship is with sex – and not people." Carnes' idea of sexual addiction is controversial.Dennis Thompson
The 'Reality' of Sex Addiction Stirs Debate
May 12, 2010 Carnes acknowledges that "the term ''sexual addiction'' does not appear in DSM-IV. In fact, the word ''addiction'' itself does not appear." He continues, saying that "Each edition of this book represents a consensus at the time of publication about what constitutes mental disorders. Each subsequent edition has reflected changes in understanding. The DSM's system is, therefore, best viewed as a 'work in progress rather than the 'bible'." The

DSM-5 The ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition'' (DSM-5), is the 2013 update to the '' Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'', the taxonomic and diagnostic tool published by the American Psychiat ...

, published in 2013, did not include sexual addiction, "as the research on these behaviors was considered to be insufficient."

Books

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carnes, Patrick Living people Sexual addiction People from Wickenburg, Arizona 1944 births