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Sexual aversion versus hypoactive sexual desire: a diagnostic challenge
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.
Psychiatric Medicine
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Women with sexual aversion exhibit avoidance behaviors but retain normal sexual desire and orgasm capacity. This supports differentiating sexual aversion disorder from hypoactive sexual desire disorder, though treatment requires addressing approach-avoidance conflicts.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Sexual Medicine
Background:
- Sexual aversion disorder is characterized by avoidance of sexual intimacy.
- DSM-III-R criteria specify marked sexual avoidance behaviors.
- Distinguishing sexual aversion from hypoactive sexual desire is clinically important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document sexual avoidance behaviors in women diagnosed with sexual aversion disorder.
- To assess sexual desire and orgasm capacity in these women.
- To support the diagnostic differentiation between sexual aversion disorder and hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
Main Methods:
- Clinical assessment of women with sexual aversion disorder.
- Documentation of specific avoidance behaviors.
- Evaluation of sexual desire and orgasm capacity.
Main Results:
- Women with sexual aversion display significant avoidance behaviors.
- These women possess normal levels of sexual desire.
- Normal capacity for orgasm was observed in the study group.
Conclusions:
- Findings support sexual aversion disorder as distinct from hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
- Clinicians must address the approach-avoidance conflict inherent in sexual aversion disorder.
- Active elicitation of avoidance features is crucial for assessment and treatment, despite patient reluctance.
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