President Clinton's does not have a sexual addiction and does not need psychotherapy, a White House Spokesman has stated.

Mike McCurry told a press conference that Clinton was receiving "pastoral care", but had no plans to have counselling.

Psychiatrists and addiction experts are divided on whether behaviour can be addictive, preferring to diagnose psychological disorders according to broader categories, such as personality disorder.

Eli Coleman, a psychologist from the University of Minnesota, believes sexual compulsion is an anxiety-based disorder.

He says addiction requires an addictive substance.

But psychologist Harcey Milkman and chemist Stanley Sunderworth have conducted research which, they say, shows that the triggering of neurotransmitters in the brain following arousal has much the same effect as taking mood-altering drugs.

Patterns of behaviour

The concept of sexual addiction has only taken hold in the last 10 years.

The US National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity believes out of control sexual behaviour mirrors patterns seen in other addiction.

It refuses to comment on individual cases, such as Clinton's, saying it needs to assess a person on a face-to-face basis.

However, it defines the key elements of addiction as:

• Compulsivity, that is, being unable to give up a particular form of behaviour
• Continuation despite adverse consequences, such as public humiliation and loss of job
• Preoccupation with engaging in the behaviour to the detriment of other goals or aims.

It says addictions can be defined by their effect on the life of the person concerned and those around them.

For example, there is a pattern of 'problem' behaviour over a significant time span; behaviour is repeated despite adverse consequences; greater risks are taken over time and the person denies to him or herself and others that there is a problem.

Sex addicts enjoy porn

The council says addicts get a high from having sex in illicit, dangerous or secretive circumstances.

Multiple affairs

Its definition of addictive sexual disorder includes multiple extramarital affairs, using power to gain access to multiple sexual partners, making indecent phone calls and spending excessive amount of time and money on porn.

The council says sex addicts have a history of other addictions or family dysfunction. Often they have been exposed to sex at an early age.

Recommended treatment includes counselling from a specialist in behavioural addiction and should involve family members.

The addict is asked to confront their behaviour and recognise the damage they have done.

It describes the effects of addiction as depression, low self esteem, shame, self-hatred, despair, remorse and self-deceit.

Other side effects include broken relationships and sexually transmitted disease.

Office romance

However, it is often difficult to draw the line over what constitutes addictive behaviour and what is more run-of-the-mill.

According to recent research in the UK, over half of all men have had sex with someone at work. Forty-one per cent are married.