Russian psychologists claims to cure alcoholics, drug, sex addicts with whipping

A psychologist from Russia has claimed that he can cure drink, drug and sex addicts by beating them with big sticks.

Dr Sergei Speransky, director of Biological Studies at Novosibirsk Institute of Medicine, said that his treatment involves thrashing patients across the bottom up to 60 times, the Daily Star reported.

He said that his patients have seen that this treatment is working where everything else has failed and it worked for him, and that he's not a sadist, but still advocates caning.

Speransky said that they cane the patients on the buttocks with a clear and definite medical purpose - it is not some warped sado-masochistic activity.

Russians pay 3,000 roubles, nearly 50 pounds, for a session of counselling and beating.