Satisfaction, Confidence and Naturalness in Men With Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Satisfaction, Confidence and Naturalness in Men With Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Context and Objectives: Erectile dysfunction severely compromises not only sexual
 satisfaction, which is well known to be closely linked to overall life satisfaction but is
 also associated with a lower quality of life, lower self-esteem, depression, anxiety and
 adverse effects on interpersonal relationships. The objective was to assess the efficacy of
 psychotherapy and/or sildenafil for psychogenic erectile dysfunction.

 Design and Settings: randomized controlled single-blind trial performed at Institute of
 Psychiatry of the Medical School of at Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil Methods:
 Thirty patients with mild and moderate psychogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) were randomized
 to receive for six months: group psychotherapy (GP) plus 50mg sildenafil on demand, or 50mg
 sildenafil exclusively, on demand, or GP exclusively. Changes in score from baseline for
 three questions of the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) were
 evaluated at end-point and after 3-months follow-up.

 Results: satisfaction with the treatment, confidence and naturalness increased in GP plus
 sildenafil and GP exclusively groups (p=0.001) from baseline to endpoint. The
 treatment-by-time comparison was not significant at end point versus 3-month follow-ups, in
 the three groups. No difference was observed in the sildenafil group in the three study
 periods (P >0.05) Conclusions: Patients with mild and moderate psychogenic ED had higher
 treatment satisfaction, confidence and naturalness in engaging in sexual activity when
 receiving GP plus sildenafil or GP exclusively, when compared with sildenafil exclusively, as
 assessed by these three EDITS questions after 6-months treatment
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. exclusive diagnosis of psychogenic ED, using a checklist for DSM-IV criteria.Morning
 erections, situational erections (masturbatory or with another partner), or acute
 onset are characteristics of psychogenic ED;

 2. age between 25 and 50 years;

 3. mild and moderate erectile dysfunction according to the International Index of
 Erectile Function (IIEF);

 4. stable heterosexual relationship for at least 1 year, and in accordance with inclusion
 criteria during short-time psychotherapy focused on sexuality; (f) informed consent
 from the patient.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Patients were excluded if presenting significant clinical diseases, major depressive
 disorder or other severe mental disorder, primary no erectile sexual disorder (e.g.,
 hypoactive sexual disorder), penile anatomic defects; users of medications that could
 interfere with sexual function; patients with any kind of physical limitations for the use
 of sildenafil citrate (current use of nitrates, past history of retinitis pigmentosa,
 allergies); and significant drug, alcohol or tobacco use