[Impotence].

Abstract

The term impotence can be defined as "disturbances in sexual behavior and sexual feeling in males as evidenced by impaired or atypical genitophysiological reactions or the complete absence of such reactions." There are two main forms: erectile impotence and premature ejaculation. Differential diagnosis between "organic" and "psychogenic" impotence is very often impossible due to the fact that the causal factors of both areas can play a role in individual cases. Psychotherapy is not always necessary. Sexual counseling can be appropriate when sexual problems are the result of inadequate sex education, sexual inhibitions or minor conflicts with the partner. Depending upon the main causes for the sexual inadequacy, the specific psychotherapy is directed towards the problems in the partnership, towards the personality difficulties, or towards the sexual behavior itself. For the treatment of the latter, the behaviorally oriented therapyprogram of Masters and Johnson has been shown to be very successful.