Though Tiger Woods has joined the league of famous personalities being cured for the problem, there is discussion in the medical society if it was a diagnosable mental condition.

Today, New Zealand-based Psychiatrist and Addiction Specialist, Dr. John Berks told AAP, "I'd say there is much less research and evidence around sex addiction than, for example, alcohol addiction which has had many, many years of research around it".

He said that it wouldn't be completely accepted as a mental health or addiction analysis by most of the people in the profession in Australasia.

He also said that whether it is an addiction or not, is up for discussion.

Dr. Berks will talk about the subject at the annual scientific conference of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) that is in progress in Auckland this week.

He said that the college required to form a policy on sex addiction as with increasing references to it, mainly in the US, the "issue is not going to go away".

Dr. Berks said that the first "love addicts" set was formed in 1975, but a "more mainstream awareness" of the issue had surfaced over the past decade.