Depressed affect and male sexual arousal

Abstract

We investigated the effects of elated and depressed affect on sexual arousal in 15 sexually functional males. Subjects received elation and depression mood inductions in a repeated-measures design. Immediately following each induction, subjects viewed a brief erotic film during which penile tumescence and subjective sexual arousal were recorded continuously. Following depression induction there was a trend toward diminished subjective sexual arousal in the early portion of erotic exposure, and achievement of maximum subjective arousal was delayed; however, penile tumescence was unaffected. Multiple regression analysis indicated that tumescence during erotica was predictive of posterotica affect, independent of pre-erotica effect. The findings of delayed subjective arousal with no diminution in tumescence, although contrary to predictions, are consistent with previous research with sexually dysfunctional men. The study provides partial support for the role of depressed affect in the etiology of erectile dysfunction.

Cognitions, Emotions, and Sexual Response: Analysis of the Relationship among Automatic Thoughts, Emotional Responses, and Sexual Arousal

“…Findings showed that anxiety exerts no significant effect (Beck et al, 1987) or even facilitates sexual arousal in sexually healthy men and women (Barlow, Sakheim, & Beck, 1983;Elliot & O'Donohue, 1997;Laan, Everaerd, Van-Aanhold, & Rebel, 1993;Palace & Gorzalka, 1990), whereas it decreases sexual response in men with sexual problems (Beck et al, 1987). Regarding the impact of mood, research consistently suggests that depressive affect is negativelyrelatedtosexualarousal (Beck&Barlow,1986;Heiman, 1980;Heiman & Rowland, 1983;Koukounas & McCabe, 2001;Meisler & Carey, 1991;Mitchell, DiBartolo, Brown, & Barlow, 1998;Nobre et al, 2004;Rowland, Cooper, & Heiman, 1995;Rowland, Cooper, & Slob, 1996).…”

The prevalence of male sexual dysfunction and potential risk factors in Turkish men: a Web-based survey

“…[4][5][6][7] A wide range of psychosocial factors predispose (eg, restrictive upbringing, distorted parental attitudes to sex, disturbed parental relationship, and early traumatic sexual experiences), precipitate (eg, random failure, depression/anxiety, traumatic sexual experience, aging, and psychological reaction to organic factors), and maintain (eg, psychological responses to a sexual problem, attitudes, marital discord, inadequate sexual information, restricted foreplay, performance anxiety, fear of failure, partner demands, and guilt) sexual dysfunctions. [7][8][9][10][11][12] Factors such as acute and chronic stress, 13 poor relationships, 14 and cognitive interference and negative effect 15,16 are implicated as etiological factors for sexual dysfunctions in men. 7 Furthermore, erectile dysfunction (ED) can be caused by chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia or hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, reproductive cancers, androgen deficiency, or lower urinary tract symptoms, and physical injury such as spinal cord injuries.…”

Sexualité et satisfaction conjugale des femmes ayant des symptômes dépressifs :

“…Toutefois et bien que la dépression soit plus prévalente chez les femmes, la majorité des études ayant évalué la sexualité des personnes dépressives ont été réalisées auprès des hommes (v.g., Bancroft, Janssen, Strong, Carnes, Vukadinovic & Long, 2003;Howell et al, 1987;Low, Khoo, Tan, Hew & Teoh, 2006;Meisler & Carey, 1991) ou ont été réalisées auprès d'hommes et de femmes mais sans présenter les résultats de façon distinctive en fonction du sexe (Casper, Redmond, Katz, Schaffer, Davis & Koslow, 1985;Davidson, Krishnan, France & Pelton, 1985). Au total, onze études ont évalué et ont rapporté des données sur la sexualité des femmes présentant des symptômes dépressifs.…”