Handbook of Sexual Dysfunction PDF

Preface

The area of treatment of sexual disorders has undergone an enormous expansion during the last few decades. The introduction of pharmacological treatment of these disorders (e.g., sildenafil for erectile dysfunction or antidepressants for paraphilias) rekindled the interest of physicians from different disciplines (psychiatrists, urologists, gynecologists) in sexual dysfunctions. Physicians are finding these disorders amenable to pharmacotherapy. However, the new developments in the area of "sexual pharmacology" have unfortunately also led to a biological reductionism in the field. In the past, most physicians viewed the etiology of sexual dysfunctions/disorders as mainly psychological, rooted in internal conflicts, deep-seated anxiety, and so on. In the present time, physicians in many disciplines view sexual dysfunctions as mostly, if not purely, of biological origin and discard any notion of psychological factors in the etiology of sexual problems. The initial hype about the success rates of sildenafil certainly contributed to this notion. However, clinicians who treat sexual dysfunctions/disorders on a daily basis know that in sexual functioning, psychology and biology are intertwined in a very complicated way.

In light of that, we feel a text that balances these two not contradictory but complementary etiological views would be highly desirable. A synthesis of biology and psychology in the area of etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of sexual dysfunction is sorely needed in the field. This book intends to fill this void.

We also hope that this text will spark greater interest in the often necessary dual approach to treatment of these disorders/dysfunctions among psychiatrists and other specialists. Finally, as psychiatrists who are interested in all aspects of well being of our patients, we hope that this book will help to improve the quality of life and sexual functioning of our patients.