The literature contains contradictory reports on the psychiatric status
of individuals with sexual dysfunction. As a step toward resolving the
controversy the authors administered the SCL-90-R to a large series of
patients who sought treatment for sexual disorders (N = 325). Psychiatric
evaluations were also done for each patient. Results showed
disproportionate levels of psychological distress, reflected in SCL-90- R
symptom profiles; approximately one-third of the 199 men and one-half of
the 126 women in the series were also assigned psychiatric diagnoses.
Findings provided evidence suggesting that the various sexual dysfunctions
have characteristic symptom profiles; however, interpretation should be
cautious because the cause-and-effect relationship between psychological
distress and sexual dysfunctions remains complex and uncharted.Abstract Teaser