Am J Psychiatry 1976; 133:562-566
Copyright © 1976 by American Psychiatric Association
Sex therapy and psychophysiological research
RC Schiavi
The author discusses two areas of psychophysiological research that may be
relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction:
investigations of sexual arousal in men and studies of nocturnal penile
tumescence. There has been no convincing evidence to date of a predictable,
generalizable autonomic response pattern to sexual arousal, but
neuroendocrine research in this area has shown promise. A close temporal
relationship has been found between REM sleep and penile tumescence in
normal men-deviations from this pattern may be related to sexual
dysfunction. The author suggests that further research is necessary in
these areas of potential diagnostic and prognostic significance.
