Who's Distressed by Sexual Difficulties? Exploring Associations Between Personal, Perceived Partner, and Relational Distress and Sexual Difficulties in Heterosexual Men and Women.

While not all sexual difficulties cause distress, research and clinical experience suggest that, apart from personal distress, partner and relational sexual distress are also often an important reason to seek professional help. The current study explored the associations between personal, perceived partner, and relational distress that men and women experience as a result of sexual difficulties. Data from heterosexual Flemish individuals ages 16 to 74 who were in a relationship (13,800 men and 13,242 women, mean age of 43.

Predictors of Sexual Distress in Women With Desire and Arousal Difficulties: Distinguishing Between Personal, Partner, and Interpersonal Distress.

Introduction: Although impaired sexual function is relatively common, not all sexual impairments are associated with distress. To date, most studies on protective and risk factors for sexual distress have asked about distress in a more general manner and have failed to distinguish different dimensions of sexual distress.

Aim: To examine the association of several intra- and interpersonal factors with personal, perceived partner, and interpersonal distress due to an impairment in sexual functioning in women.

Sexual Difficulties and Associated Sexual Distress in Flanders (Belgium): A Representative Population-Based Survey Study.

Introduction: Because severity and duration of sexual impairment and any distress caused by the sexual impairment are not assessed in most epidemiologic studies on sexual dysfunction, the available prevalence rates are probably an overestimation.

Aims: To provide prevalence estimates of severe and persistent sexual difficulties that cause personal distress and to explore the association between personal sexual distress and avoidance of sex, help-seeking behavior, and sexual satisfaction.

Methods: This study used home-based computer-assisted personal interviewing and computer-assisted self-interviewing of a representative, randomly selected, population-based cross-sectional sample of 651 Flemish men and 695 women 14 to 80 years old.

Prevalence rates of sexual difficulties and associated distress in heterosexual men and women: results from an Internet survey in Flanders.

As most epidemiological surveys on sexual problems have not included assessment of associated distress, the principal aim of this study was to provide prevalence estimates of both DSM-IV-TR-defined (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000 ) and less commonly assessed sexual difficulties and dysfunction (e.g., lack of responsive sexual desire, lack of subjective arousal).

Distress, sexual dysfunctions, and DSM: dialogue at cross purposes?

Introduction: A distress criterion was added to the diagnostic criteria of sexual dysfunctions in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV; 1994). This decision was neither based on empirical evidence, nor on an open, academic, or public debate about its necessity. As a result, this decision has been disputed ever since the publication of DSM-IV.