The potential benefit of vacuum devices augmenting psychosexual therapy for erectile dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial.
A cohort of 45 patients diagnosed with predominant psychogenic erectile disorder (ED) chose couples psychotherapy. We randomized 25 couples to also receive a vacuum constriction device (VCD), also known as a vacuum erectile device, at the second session (group 1), whereas 20 couples had psychotherapy without a VCD. Twenty-one couples (84%) in group 1 reported some improvement after the initial psychotherapy and VCD sessions compared with 12 of the 20 couples (60%) who reported some improvement after couples psychotherapy in group 2. We subsequently found that 3 of the 4 couples in group 1 reporting no improvement had not used the pump provided. Early combination treatment of couples psychotherapy and a physical treatment such as a VCD may lead to a greater beneficial response in men with ED than therapy alone. The delay of demonstrating the capacity and potential benefit from a physical intervention may have a marked effect on the initial and ongoing response to sex therapy.
Wylie
Kevan R
KR
Porterbrook Clinic, Sheffield, England. k.r.wylie@sheffield.ac.uk
Jones
Ruth Hallam
RH
Walters
Stephen
S
D000328:Adult; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010410:Penile Erection; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods; D011687:Purines; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014618:Vacuum; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate