The psychodynamic approach to premature ejaculation

Abstract

The psychological approach remains an important treatment option for premature ejaculation (PE). Psychotherapy for PE is an integration of psychodynamic, systems, behavioural, and cognitive therapies within a short-term psychotherapy approach. Psychodynamic therapy understand the PE as a metaphor in which the partners are trying to simultaneously repress and express conflicting aspects of the relationship or themselves. The targets of treatment are to learn to control ejaculation while understanding the meaning of the symptomatology and the context in which it occurs. Psychotherapy improves ejaculatory control by helping man and couple to: increase communication; overcome barriers to intimacy; come to terms with feelings and thoughts that interfere with the sexual function; learn strategies to control and/or delay ejaculation; lessen performance anxiety; gain confidence in their sexual performance; resolve interpersonal issues that precipitate and maintain the dysfunction; modify rigid sexual repertoires. Psychodynamic therapy understand the PE as a metaphor in which the partners are trying to simultaneously repress and express conflicting aspects of themselves or the relationship.