Characteristics of Sexual Functioning of Alcoholics

Consequences of the alcohol illness are evident on psychic, physical and social plan. Sexual behaviour is also changed. Our research aimed at complex recognition of sexual functioning, usual behaviour in all revealing spheres, normal aspects: dreams, imagining, masturbation, foreplay, coitus and sexual attitudes. 200 persons were sample in this research: 100 alcohol addicts and 100 persons of the control group. Following results were obtained:•dreams of sexual contents are rare both with addicts and other population, but significantly larger percent of alcoholics has “wet or orgasmic” dreams,•day-dreaming is less noticed with alcoholics, meaning that the need for raising sexual vigilance is reduced,•alcoholics masturbate more, they start to masturbate in later stage,•addicts rarely have foreplay and its duration is shorter, as a consequence of disturbed intimacy and impossibility of total harmony and exchange with a partner,•alcoholics have less sexual intercourses and feel different during them•there are no great differences in opinions about sex,•structural personal characteristics also have effect on sexual behaviour and alcoholism. Alcoholics have certain personal characteristics that clearly define them and which, because of their nature, influence addiction development and sexual behaviour.We can conclude from the research that a tendency in behaviour is evidenced, and for which can be said that it is "pattern of sexual functioning of alcoholics". Except difficulties in genital response, "pattern" refers to emotional component, meaning closeness or a level of intimacy with partner, as well as modification of "normal” sexual aspects.