title: Patient-reported sexual symptomatology in predicting functional and insufficient erectile capacity.
abstract: We evaluated the clinical utility of patient-reported erectile functioning information in discriminating Rigiscan-determined functional (greater than or equal to 70% penile tip and base rigidity and greater than or equal to 10 minutes' duration) from insufficient (less than 40% penile tip and base rigidity and less than or equal to 6 minutes' duration) erectile capacity, in a population of chronically ill men presenting with erectile dysfunction. Forty-three male veterans completed an extensive medical and psychologic evaluation, including a detailed assessment of sexual functioning, and then underwent two consecutive nights of supervised in-hospital Rigiscan sleep evaluations. Results of discriminant function analysis indicated that patient reports of morning erections and ejaculatory ability accurately predicted group membership for functional (96.7%) and insufficient (100%) categories. Careful attention to patient self-report is suggested for the urologist's initial appraisal of erectile dysfunction in populations of older, chronically ill men.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: D'Attilio
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Rhamy
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Antoni
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Politano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection; D010413:Penis / Q000503:physiopathology*