Pornography Addiction in Cameroon: A Psychodynamic Analysis, Technological Changes, and Structured Therapeutic Approaches

Introduction: The rapid spread of mobile technologies is changing access to sexual content in sub-Saharan Africa. This study analyses the psychodynamic and sociocultural factors contributing to pornography addiction in Cameroon to propose appropriate therapeutic approaches. Methods: A series of illustrative and clinical cases was carried out at the CSAPA of Laquintinie Hospital in Douala. Semi-structured interviews explored the life histories and intrapsychic conflicts of two adult male patients who met the criteria for compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (ICD-11). Results: The first case (age 31) illustrates a severe moral incongruity between his impulses and his Christian faith, with pornography serving as a form of self-medication to cope with anxiety and early-life trauma. The second case (age 23) highlights a poly-addiction (pornography and cannabis) functioning as neosexuality to avoid relationships and as passive resistance to an authoritarian father. At the local level, the smartphone provides a space for clandestine intimacy and an outlet in the face of sexual taboos and the rigidity of communication within patriarchal family structures. Discussion/Conclusion: Pornography addiction in Cameroon is a symptom of deep-seated psychological conflicts. The study’s limitations include the small sample size and the fact that the participants were all male. To optimise care, it is necessary to combine standardised tools (CPUI-9) with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques, while also addressing patients’ co-addictions and cultural or spiritual factors.