Psychologic factors in the multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment of erectile dysfunction

The members of a multidisciplinary team treating sexual dysfunction must work together from different perspectives and training to determine an accurate diagnosis, choose an appropriate treatment, and evaluate those treatments systematically. Integrating data from both physical and psychologic evaluations is essential. Anxiety, depression, or other reactions to stress are seen as cognitive interferences that inhibit sexual arousal by distracting attention from erotic stimuli. The goals of sex therapy are to enhance attentional focus on sexual cues and to lessen distractions in the form of anxiety, conflict, or other stresses. Although there continue to be methodologic problems in outcome evaluation research of multidisciplinary treatment of sexual dysfunction, follow-up studies generally indicate improvements in sexual functioning, satisfaction, and self-esteem.