A Controlled Study to Evaluate the Impact of a Psychosexual Assessment on Treatment Adherence and Satisfaction in Men with Erectile Dysfunction.

A Controlled Study to Evaluate the Impact of a Psychosexual Assessment on Treatment Adherence and Satisfaction in Men with Erectile Dysfunction, Katherine A. Muldoon, Julie F. Larouche, Rhonda Amsel, Yitzchak M. Binik, and Serge Carrier, McGill University

We compared the multidisciplinary assessment model of erectile dysfunction (ED) to the standard medical treatment. All patients were examined by the same urologist and received the same standard of care; however, the experimental group attended a psychosexual assessment prior to the appointment with the urologist. All patients answer a general health and sexual functioning questionnaire and complete the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) at baseline. We followed up 3-6 months later and administered a brief structured interview, the SHIM, and the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) to assess sexual functioning and treatment satisfaction. Preliminary results suggested that men who underwent a psychosexual assessment before their urology exam report a significantly higher percentage use of prescribed medication treatment and significantly higher treatment satisfaction than men who had the urologist examination alone. A multidisciplinary approach to ED may be the most effective way to assess the condition and facilitate treatment adherence. This supports the conclusions of the NIH Consensus Panel on Impotence (1993).