Uses of Psychophysiology in the Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction

Abstract

Clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires, the focus of the two preceding chapters, both involve the patient's subjective psychological report. In contrast, this chapter reports on objective physiological measurement of sexual arousal, through Plethysmographic measurement of genital blood flow. The potential utility of this psychophysiological measure in both research and treatment is examined in this chapter, and some cautionary remarks about potential misuse of such psychophysiological data are offered.