title: The psychological aspects in sexually transmitted infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the last years the number of sexually transmitted diseases has greatly increased. This can be attributed mainly to less rigidity in the gender role and to the ever growing sexual liberalization. Sexuality today as in the past, represents an important and complex dimension of the human being. With respect to the psychological area many authors think that there are specific personality traits that to a higher extent compared to others might push individuals to carry out inconsiderate behavior among which there has been found a higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). In the present paper preliminary data of a research carried out provides information about sexual habits among patients of the IST of Florence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 344 individuals, from 15 to over 70-year-old, Italians and strangers, has been asked to fill up a self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Through these data the psychological aspects at the base of sexual habits in our reference sample are highlighted even more clearly. Through the analysis of these data it will be possible to get a larger number of information that can be used for the building of psychological support experiences that take into account the individual differences among patients one finds through consultations and support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The psychological support is very important for a lot of patients who belong to the center and show inappropriate sexual behavior and exposed to risky sexual behavior.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Psycology-Psychotherapy Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy - e.campolmi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campolmi
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Santosuosso
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giomi
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zuccati
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult