ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the rationale and process for carrying out a psychological evaluation on men seeking help for a sexual problem are discussed. The importance of such evaluation depends on a number of factors, including the nature of the sexual problem, the magnitude of presumed psychological concomitants, and the resources available to both the health-care practitioner and the client. Nevertheless, whether the health-care provider is a primary physician, urologist, endocrinologist, sex therapist, or other specialist dealing with sexual problems, at least minimal attention to the psychological health of the client is paramount to achieving a fully integrated approach to treatment. The interaction between psychological factors and elements of the human sexual response has been discussed in Chapter 12. In this chapter, we describe a process for psychosexual and psychological evaluation using both standardized and nonstandardized assessment procedures that can augment the clinician’s insight into potential psychological factors that may impact the client’s sexual functioning. Advantages and limitations of specific approaches are iterated, and we present examples for incorporating this process into a typical clinic or office visit.
