Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The role of anxiety in sexual dysfunctions: A review

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Studies are reviewed which (a) compare anxiety and other measures of psychopathology between normals and dysfunctionals; (b) evaluate the effectiveness of anxiety reduction procedures for treating sexual dysfunctions; and (c) try to identify anxiety-related stimuli that alter sexual arousal. The studies, in general, suggest that (a) anxiety is common among people with sexual dysfunctions, but that the level and nature of the anxiety may vary greatly between individuals; (b) anxiety reduction procedures improve some, but probably not all, aspects of sexual dysfunctions; and (c) recent research has begun to identify some anxiety-related factors that can disrupt sexual arousal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, B. L. (1981). A comparison of systematic desensitization and directed masturbation in the treatment of primary orgasmic dysfunction in females.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 49: 568–570.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ansari, J. M. A. (1975). A study of 65 impotent males.Brit. J. Psychiat. 127: 337–341.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Auerbach, R., and Kilmann, P. (1977). The effects of group systematic desensitization on secondary erectile failure.Behav. Ther. 8: 330–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, D. H. (1977). Assessment of sexual behavior. In Ciminero, A. M., Adams, H., and Calhoun, K. (eds.),Handbook of Behavioral Assessment Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bass, B. A. (1974). Sexual arousal as an anxiety inhibitor.J. Behav. Ther. Exper. Psychiat. 5: 151–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borkovec, T. D. (1976). Physiological and cognitive processes in the regulation of anxiety. In Schwartz, G. E., and Shapiro, D. (eds.),Consciousness and Self-Regulation Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briddell, D. W., and Wilson, G. T. (1976). Effects of alcohol and expectancy set on male sexual arousal.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 85: 225–234.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, A. J. (1968a). “Neurosis” and disorders of sexual potency in the male.J. Psychosom. Res. 12: 141–144.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, A. J. (1968b). A factual study of male potency disorders.Brit. J. Psychiat. 114: 719–731.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, A. J. (1969a). A clinical study of “coital anxiety” in male potency disorders.J. Psychosom. Res. 13: 143–147.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, A. J. (1969b). Disorders of sexual potency in the male: A clinical and statistical study of some factors related to short term prognosis.Brit. J. Psychiat. 115: 709–719.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craighead, W. E., and Craighead, L. W. (1981). Instructional demand and anxiety level: Effects on speech anxiety.Behav. Modification 5: 103–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, R. J., and Schwartz, G. E. (1976). The psychobiology of relaxation and related states. In Mostofsky, D. I. (ed.),Behavioral Control and Modification of Physiological Activity Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, and Meyer, (1979). A psychological profile of the sexual dysfunctions.Arch. Sex. Behav. 8: 201–223.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dutton, D. G., and Aron, A. P. (1974). Some evidence for heightened sexual attraction under conditions of high anxiety.J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 30: 510–517.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Everaerd, W., and Dekker, J. (1982). Treatment of secondary orgasmic dysfunction: A comparison of systematic desensitization and sex therapy.Behav. Res. Ther. 20: 269–274.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farkas, G. M., Sine, L. F., and Evans, I. M. (1978). Personality, sexuality and demographic differences between volunteers and non-volunteers in a laboratory study of male sexual behavior.Arch. Sex. Behav. 7: 513–520.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farkas, G. M., Sine, L. F., and Evans, I. M. (1979). The effects of distraction, performance demand, stimulus explicitness, and personality on objective and subjective measures of male sexual arousal.Behav. Res. Ther. 17: 25–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, D. E., and Lipsedge, M. S. (1971). Treatment of phobic anxiety and psychogenic impotence by systematic desensitization employing methohexitone-induced relaxation.Brit. J. Psychiat. 118: 87–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geer, J. H., and Fuhr, R. (1976). Cognitive factors in sexual arousal: The role of distraction.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 44: 238–243.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hatch, J. P. (1981). Psychophysiological aspects of sexual dysfunction.Arch. Sex. Behav. 10: 49–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoon, E. F., Hoon P. W., and Wincze, J. P. (1976). An inventory for the measurement of female sexual arousability: The SAI.Arch. Sex. Behav. 5: 291–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoon, P. W., Wincze, J. P., and Hoon, E. F. (1977). A test of reciprocal inhibition: Are anxiety and sexual arousal in women mutually inhibitory?J. Abnorm. Psychol. 86: 65–74.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ince, L. (1973). Behavior modification of sexual disorders.Amer. J. Psychother. 27: 446–451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jehu, D. (1979).Sexual Dysfunction: A Behavioural Approach to Causation, Assessment, and Treatment. Wiley, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, J. (1965). Prognosis of disorders of sexual potency in the male.J. Psychosom. Res. 9: 195–200.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, W., Jr., Faceg, J., and Park, P. (1972). Treatment of single partner sexual dysfunction by systematic desensitization.Obstet. Gynecol. 39: 411–417.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, H. S. (1974).The New Sex Therapy: Active Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions. Brunner/Mazel, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, H. S., and Novick, A. (1982). The treatment of sexual phobias: The combined use of antipanic medication and sex therapy.J. Sex and Marital Therapy. 8: 3–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., and Wilcoxin, L. A. (1976). Systematic desensitization and nonspecific treatment effects.Psychol. Bull. 83: 729–758.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kilmann, P. R., and Auerback, R. (1979). Treatments of premature ejaculation and psychogenic impotence: A critical review of the literature.Arch. Sex. Behav. 8: 81–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kockott, G., Dittman, F., and Nusselt, L. (1975). Systematic desensitization of erectile impotence: A controlled study.Arch. Sex. Behav. 4: 493–499.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kockott, G., Feil, W., Ferstl, R., Aldenhoff, J., and Besinger, U. (1980a). Psychophysiological aspects of male sexual inadequacy. Results of an experimental study.Arch. Sex. Behav. 9: 477–493.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kockott, G., Feil, W., Revenstrof, D., Aldenhoff, J., and Besinger, U. (1980b). Symptomatology and psychological aspects of male sexual inadequacy: Results of an experimental study.Arch. Sex. Behav. 9: 457–475.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kozak, M. J., and Miller, G. A., (1982). Hypothetical constructs vs. intervening variables: A reappraisal of the three systems model of anxiety assessment.Behav. Assess. 4: 347–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang, P. J. (1968). Fear reduction and fear behavior: Problems in treating a construct. In Schlien, J. M. (Ed.),Research in Psychotherapy (Vol. III), American Psychological Association, Washington, D. C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange, J. D., Wincze, J. P., Zwick, W., Feldman, S., and Hughes, K. (1981). Effects of demand for performance, self-monitoring of arousal, and increased sympathetic nervous system activity on male erectile response.Arch. Sex. Behav. 10: 443–464.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, S. B., and Yost, M. A. (1976). Frequency of sexual dysfunction in a general gynecological clinic: An epidemiological approach.Arch. Sex. Behav. 5: 229–238.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Madsen, C., and Ullman, L. (1967). Innovations in the desensitization of frigidity.Behav. Res. Ther. 5: 67–68.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Masters, W., and Johnson, V. (1970).Human Sexual Inadequacy. Little, Brown, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maurice, W. L., and Guze, S. B. (1970). Sexual dysfunction and associated psychiatric disorders.Compr. Psychiat. 11: 539–543.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGlynn, F. D., Mealiea, W. L., Jr., and Landau, D. L. (1981). The current status of systematic desensitization.Clin. Psychol. Rev. 1: 149–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munjack, D. J., and Kanno, P. H. (1979). Retarded ejaculation: A review.Arch. Sex. Behav. 8: 139–150.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Munjack, D. J., Kanno, P. H., and Oziel, L. J. (1978). Ejaculatory disorders: Some psychometric data.Psychol. Rep. 43: 783–787.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Munjack, D. J., Oziel, L. J., Kanno, P. H., Whipple, K., and Leonard, M. D. (1981). Psychological characteristics of males with secondary erectile failures.Arch. Sex. Behav. 10: 123–131.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Norton, G. R., DiNardo, P. A., and Barlow, D. H. (1983). Predicting phobics' response to therapy: A consideration of subjective.Can. Psychol. 24: 50–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obler, M. (1973). Systematic desensitization in sexual disorders.J. Behav. Ther. Exp. Psychiat. 4: 93–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawlowski, W. (1979). Response to sexual films as a function of anxiety level.Psychol. Rep. 44: 1067–1073.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pinderhughes, C. A., Grace, E. B., and Reyna, L. J. (1972). Psychiatric disorders and sexual functioning.Amer. J. Psychiat. 128: 96–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sotile, W. M., and Kilmann, P. R. (1977). Treatments of psychogenic female sexual dysfunctions.Psychol. Bull. 84: 619–633.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sotile, W. M., and Kilmann, P. R. (1978). Effects of group systematic desensitization on female orgasmic dysfunction.Arch. Sex. Behav. 7: 477–491.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., and Lushene, R. E. (1970).Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stafford-Clark, D. (1954). Etiology and treatment of impotence.Practitioner 172: 397–404.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, D. M. (1981). Lateral brain function, emotion, and conceptualization.Psychol. Bull. 89: 19–46.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. T., and Lawson, D. M. (1976). The effects of alcohol on sexual arousal in women.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 85: 489–497.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. T., and Lawson, D. M. (1978). Expectancies, alcohol, and sexual arousal in women.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 87: 358–367.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wincze, J. P. (1980). Sexual dysfunction. In Turner, S., Calhoun, K., and Adams, H. (eds.),Handbook of Clinical Behavior Therapy Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wincze, J. P., and Caird, W. K. (1976). The effects of systematic desensitization and video desensitization in the treatment of essential sexual dysfunction in women.Behav. Ther. 7: 335–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wincze, J. P., Hoon, E. F., and Hoon, P. W. (1978). Multiple measure analysis of women experiencing low sexual arousal.Behav. Res. Ther. 16: 43–49.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wincze, J. P., Venditti, E., Barlow, D., and Mavissakalian, M. (1980). The effects of a subjective monitoring task in the measure of genital response to erotic stimulation.Arch. Sex. Behav. 9: 533–545.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolchik, S. A., Beggs, V. E., Wincze, J. P., Sakheim, D. K., Barlow, D. H., and Mavissakalian, M. (1980). The effects of emotional arousal on subsequent sexual arousal in men.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 89: 595–598.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolpe, J. (1958).Psychotherapy by Reciprocal Inhibition. Stanford University Press, Stanford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolpe, J. (1978). Comments on “A test of reciprocal inhibition” by Hoon, Wincze, and Hoon.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 87: 452–454.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolpe, J. (1981). The dichotomy between classical conditioned and cognitively learned anxiety.J. Behav. Ther. Exp. Psychiat. 12: 35–42.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Winnipeg, R3B 2F9, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    G. R. Norton Ph.D.

  2. Psychological Service Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Derek Jehu F.B.Ps.S

Authors
  1. G. R. Norton Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Derek Jehu F.B.Ps.S
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by a Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada Leave Fellowship to G. R. Norton.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Norton, G.R., Jehu, D. The role of anxiety in sexual dysfunctions: A review. Arch Sex Behav 13, 165–183 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542150

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542150

Key words

Search

Navigation