RT Book, Section
A1 Balon, Richard
A1 Segraves, R. Taylor
A2 Ebert, Michael H.
A2 Loosen, Peter T.
A2 Nurcombe, Barry
A2 Leckman, James F.
SR Print(0)
ID 3287823
T1 Chapter 25. Sexual Dysfunction and Paraphilias
T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Psychiatry, 2e
YR 2008
FD 2008
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-142292-5
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=3287823
RD 2024/04/19
AB Sexual  dysfunctions  and  paraphilias  are  disorders  of  either  disturbance  of  processes  in  sexual  functioning  (sexual  dysfunctions)  or  sexual  behavior(s)  (paraphilias).  Human  sexuality  presents  a  very  complex  interaction  of  biology  and  psychology,  which  is  reflected  in  complex  physiological  responses.  A  seemingly  very  simple  event,  such  as  erection,  is  regulated  on  the  central  nervous  system  and  peripheral  nervous  system  level,  modified  by  various  hormones,  impacted  by  vascular  changes,  and  influenced  by  various  expectations,  interpersonal  issues,  intrapsychic  processes,  not  to  mention  the  influences  of  medications  and  substances  of  abuse,  the  aging  processes,  diseases  and  personal  habits.  While  there  is  a  substantial  body  of  literature  on  human  sexuality  in  general  and  sexual  dysfunctions  and  paraphilias  in  particular,  there  is  mostly  a  lack  of  good  evidence-based  literature  on  most  aspects  of  these  disorders.  The  focus  has  definitely  moved  from  psychology  to  biology  and  medicalization  of  human  sexuality.  The  biological  sciences,  such  as  pharmacology,  have  contributed  enormously  to  the  developments  in  this  area.  However,  an  exclusive  focus  on  biology  and  medical  aspects  of  human  sexuality  is  unwarranted  and  may  trivialize  a  very  complex  area  of  human  behavior.  Even  the  clearly  “biological”  treatment  approaches  to  sexual  dysfunction  may  fail  in  certain  situations  due  to  various  psychological  factors.  Thus,  we  caution  the  reader  to  always  consider  all  factors,  biological  and  psychological,  in  making  the  diagnosis  and  in  planning  treatment.  In  most  cases,  the  judicious  combination  of  biological  and  psychological  treatment  approaches  will  yield  the  most  satisfactory  results.