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Psychogenic impotence: Is it possible to differentiate it from organic impotence with personality, psychopathological and defensive indexes?

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Abstract

In this study, the authors compared 2 samples of patients suffering from organic (N.29) and psychogenic (N.52) erectile dysfunction, with the aim of identifying psychological dimensions which could differentiate between the two samples and adequate psychometric instruments to measure them. The following evaluation scales were used: Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire— Revised (PDQ-R), Symptom Check List 90 (SCL-90) and Defense Style Questionnaire—Short Form (DSQ-SF) in order to assess personality traits, psychiatric symptoms and defensive styles, respectively. PDQ-R, SCL-90 and DSQ-SF were found to be inadequate to differentiate between the two samples of psychogenically and organically impotent patients. Moving from this negative result the authors formulate some hypothesis on the possibility and the opportunity of research on this direction, and on the possible meaning of psychogenic impotence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, Neuropsychic Science Department—H S. Raffaele Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Italy

    A. Orlandinim MD, P. Rizzi, A. Fossati, M. A. Parlangeli & C. Maffei (Associate Professor of Medical Psychology)

  2. Department of Urology, Neuropsychic Science Department—H S. Raffaele Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Italy

    F. Montorsi & G. Guazzoni

  3. Department of Neurology, Neuropsychic Science Department—H S. Raffaele Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Italy

    L. Ferini-Strambi

  4. Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy

    C. Maffei (Associate Professor of Medical Psychology)

Authors
  1. A. Orlandinim MD
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  2. P. Rizzi
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  3. A. Fossati
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  4. M. A. Parlangeli
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  5. F. Montorsi
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  6. G. Guazzoni
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  7. L. Ferini-Strambi
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  8. C. Maffei
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Orlandinim, A., Rizzi, P., Fossati, A. et al. Psychogenic impotence: Is it possible to differentiate it from organic impotence with personality, psychopathological and defensive indexes?. Sex Disabil 11, 259–267 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102170

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