Sex Addiction: Form of Hypersexuality or just High Libido?

David Duchovny has it. Tiger Woods has it. Heck, Eliot Spitzer might even have it.

But is sex addiction a real thing? Or just an excuse to spend money on high-class hookers?

No matter what turns some on, a recent study from the University of California, Los Angeles says no. In fact, new information shows no specific data showing that sex addiction is a mental disorder. (That's right--no data.)

After monitoring the brain activity of 52 people who reported "having problems controlling their viewing of sexual images," researchers found absolutely no connection between differences in brain responses and hypersexuality.

"Brain response was only related to the measure of sexual desire," said co-author of the study Nicole Prause, in a statement. "In other words, hypersexuality does not appear to explain brain responses to sexual images any more than just having a high libido."

It's estimated by the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health that around 3 to 5 percent of the American population, or more than 9 million people, meet the condition of a sex addict, which includes exhibiting certain sexual behaviors such as masturbation, prostitution, cyber-sex and even multiple affairs despite multiple emotional consequences.

In fact, according to the study, despite the fact that many health experts believe it is a mental disorder, the study showed that brain patterns failed to meet the criteria included in the most recent update of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5.

However, many health advocates hold firm that sex addiction is a mental disorder that needs to be addressed with therapy and possibly medication. (Or, frequent trips to the strip club...Sorry, just kidding.)

"You can't define an addiction by what a person eats, what kind of alcohol they drink or whether they play blackjack or craps," said Robert Weiss, a sex addiction clinician and author, via U.S. News World and Report. "We look at their life and determine if a substance or behavior is negatively affecting the quality of their life to the point where they need help."

What do you think?