Between Pleasure and Compulsion: Linking Mechanisms Between Pornography Consumption and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Objective Problematic pornography use shares several features with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including compulsivity, emotional distress, and loss of control. This study conducted a systematic review of recent literature to synthesize evidence on the psychological, cognitive, and neurobiological mechanisms linking both phenomena, and to propose a clinical framework for their assessment and treatment. Method Empirical studies published between 2013 and 2024 were reviewed across international databases, focusing on cognitive-behavioral and neurobiological processes related to problematic pornography use and OCD. Results Findings identified shared mechanisms such as heightened reactivity to associated cues, impaired inhibitory control, maladaptive metacognitive processes, and dysfunction within dopaminergic and serotonergic systems. Conclusions Problematic pornography use and OCD share common substrates of compulsivity and self-control dysfunction. Integrative therapeutic approaches—combining cognitive-behavioral therapy and serotonergic pharmacotherapy—represent a promising avenue for clinical intervention and future research.