Skip to main content

The Association of Sexual Dysfunction and Substance Use Among a Community Epidemiological Sample

Archives of Sexual Behavior volume 33, pages 55–63 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

This study examines the prevalence of DSM-III sexual dysfunctions and their association with comorbid drug and alcohol use in a community epidemiologic sample. The data for these analyses are based on the Epidemiological Catchment Area Project, a multistage probability study of the incidence and prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the general population conducted in 1981–83. Only the sample of 3,004 adult community residents in the St. Louis area was queried on DSM-III sexual dysfunctions of inhibited orgasm, functional dyspareunia (painful sex), inhibited sexual excitement (i.e., lack of erection/arousal), and inhibited sexual desire. There was a prevalence rate of 11% for inhibited orgasm, 13% for painful sex, 5% for inhibited sexual excitement, 7% for inhibited sexual desire, and 26% for any of these sexual dysfunctions (14% for men and 33% for women). The prevalence of qualifying lifetime substance use among the population was 37%, with males meeting more drug and alcohol use criteria than females. After controlling for demographics, health status variables, and psychiatric comorbidity (depression disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and residual disorders), inhibited orgasm was associated with marijuana and alcohol use. Painful sex was associated with illicit drug use and marijuana use. Inhibited sexual excitement was more likely among illicit drug users. Inhibited sexual desire was not associated with drug or alcohol use.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

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

REFERENCES

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J., Loftus, J., & Long, J. S. (2003). Distress about sex: A national survey of women in heterosexual relationships. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32 193–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cocores, J. A., Miller, N. S., Pottash, A. C., & Gold, M. S. (1988). Sexual dysfunction in abusers of cocaine and alcohol. American Journal of Drug Alcohol Abuse, 14 169–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cottler, L. B., Helzer, J. E., & Tipp, J. E. (1990). Lifetime patterns of substance use among general population subjects engaging in high risk sexual behaviors: Implications for HIV risk. American Journal of Drug Alcohol Abuse, 16 207–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Covington, S. S., & Kohen, J. (1984). Women, alcohol, and sexuality. Advances in Alcohol and Substance Abuse, 4 41–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eaton, W. W., & Kessler, L. G. (1985). Epidemiologic field methods in psychiatry: The NIMH Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagan, P. J., Schmidt, C. W., Jr., Wise, T. N., & Derogatis, L. R. (1988). Alcoholism in patients with sexual disorders. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 14 245–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahrner, E. (1987). Sexual dysfunction in male alcohol addicts: Prevalence and treatment. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 16 247–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fugl-Meyer, A. R., & Fugl-Meyer, K. (1999). Sexual disabilities, problems and satisfaction in 18-74 year old Swedes. Scandinavian Journal of Sexology, 2 79–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gossop, M. R., Stern, R., & Connell, P. H. (1974). Drug dependence and sexual dysfunction: A comparison of intravenous users of narcotics and oral users of amphetamines. British Journal of Psychiatry, 124 431–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heiman, J. R. (2002). Sexual dysfunction: Overview of prevalence, etiological factors, and treatments. Journal of Sex Research, 39 73–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, D. J., Boyd, C. J., & Whitmarsh, J. (1995). Women and illicit drugs: Sexuality and crack cocaine. Health Care for Women International, 16 113–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inciardi, J. A. (1995). Crack, crack house sex, and HIV risk. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 24 249–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandel, D. B., & Raveis, V. H. (1989). Cessation of illicit drug use in young adulthood. Archives of General Psychiatry, 46 109–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kish, L. (1965). Survey sampling. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klassen, A. D., & Wilsnack, S. C. (1986). Sexual experience and drinking among women in a U.S. national survey. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 15 363–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laumann, E. O., Gagnon, J. H., Michael, R. T., & Michaels, S. (1994). The social organization of sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laumann, E. O., Paik, A., & Rosen, R. C. (1999). Sexual dysfunction in the United States. JAMA, 281 537–544.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindal, E., & Stefansson, J. G. (1993). The lifetime prevalence of psychosexual dysfunction among 55 to 57-year-olds in Iceland. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 28 91–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandell, W., & Miller, C. M. (1983). Male sexual dysfunction as related to alcohol consumption: A pilot study. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 7 65–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maurice, W. L., & Guze, S. B. (1970). Sexual dysfunction and associated psychiatric disorders. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 11 539–543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metz, M., & Seifert, M. H. (1990). Men's expectations of physicians in sexual health concerns. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 16 79–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Farrell, T. J., Choquette, K. A., Cutter, H. S. G., & Birchler, G. R. (1997). Sexual satisfaction and dysfunction in marriages of male alcoholics: Comparison with nonalcoholic martially conflicted and nonconflicted couples. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 58 91–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L. N., & McEvoy, L. (1990). Conduct problems as predictors of substance abuse. In L. N. Robins & M. Rutter (Eds.), Straight and devious pathways from childhood to adulthood (pp. 182–204). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L. N., & Regier, D. A. (1991). Psychiatric disorders in America: The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, R. C., & Laumann, E. O. (2003). The prevalence of sexual problems in women: How valid are comparisons across studies? Commentary on Bancroft, Loftus, and Long's (2003) “Distress about sex: A national survey of women in heterosexual relationships.” Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32 209–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, R. C., Taylor, J. F., Leiblum, S. R., & Bachman, G. A. (1993). Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women: Results of a survey study of 329 women in an outpatient gynecological clinic. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 19, 171–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiavi, R. C., Stimmel, B. B., Mandeli, J., & White, D. (1995). Chronic alcoholism and male sexual function. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152 1045–1051.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons, J. S., & Carey, M. P. (2001). Prevalence of sexual dysfunction: Results from a decade of research. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 30 177–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D. E., Moser, C., Wesson, D. R., Apter, M., Buxton, M. E., Davison, J. V., et al. (1982). Clinical guide to the diagnosis and treatment of heroin-related sexual dysfunction. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 14 91–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spector, I. P., & Carey, M. P. (1990). Incidence and prevalence of the sexual dysfunctions: A critical review of the empirical literature. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 19 389–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • VonKorff, M., Cottler, L. B., George, L. K., Eaton, B., Leaf, P., & Burnam, A. (1985). Non-response and non-response bias in the ECA surveys. In W. Eaton & L. Kessler (Eds.), Epidemiologic methods in psychiatry: The NIMH Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program (pp. 85–98). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner, E. A. (1993). Cocaine abuse. Annals of Internal Medicine, 119 226–235.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, University of Missouri–St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri

    Sharon D. Johnson

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri

    Sharon D. Johnson & Linda B. Cottler

  3. Department of Philosophy, Religion, and Social Sciences, Fontbonne University, St. Louis, Missouri

    Deborah L. Phelps

Authors
  1. Sharon D. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Deborah L. Phelps
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Linda B. Cottler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Johnson, S.D., Phelps, D.L. & Cottler, L.B. The Association of Sexual Dysfunction and Substance Use Among a Community Epidemiological Sample. Arch Sex Behav 33, 55–63 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ASEB.0000007462.97961.5a

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ASEB.0000007462.97961.5a

  • sexual dysfunction
  • substance use
  • comorbidity
  • epidemiology
  • DSM
  • Epidemiological Catchment Area Project