Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Uses of Psychophysiology in the Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction

  • Chapter
Handbook of Sex Therapy

Part of the book series: Perspectives in Sexuality ((PISE))

Abstract

Clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires, the focus of the two preceding chapters, both involve the patient’s subjective psychological report. In contrast, this chapter reports on objective physiological measurement of sexual arousal, through Plethysmographic measurement of genital blood flow. The potential utility of this psychophysiological measure in both research and treatment is examined in this chapter, and some cautionary remarks about potential misuse of such psychophysiological data are offered.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abel, G., Barlow, D., Blanchard, E., and Mavissakalian, M. Measurement of sexual arousal in male homosexuals: Effects of instructions and stimulus modality. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1975, 4, 623–630.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Annon, J. The behavioral treatment of sexual problems, Vols. 1 and 2: Brief therapy. Honolulu: Kapiolani Health Services, 1974, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J. The application of psychophysiological measures to the assessment-modification of sexual behavior. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1971, 8, 119–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J., Jones, H. G., and Pullan, B. T. A simple transducer for measuring penile erection with comments on its use in the treatment of sexual disorders. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1966, 4, 239–241.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, D. Increasing heterosexual responsiveness in the treatment of sexual deviation: A review of the clinical and experimental evidence. Behavior Therapy, 1973, 4, 665–671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, D. The treatment of sexual deviation: Toward a comprehensive behavioral approach. In K. Calhoun, H. Adams, and K. Mitchell (Eds.), Innovative treatment methods in psychopathology. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, D., and Agras, W. Failing to increase heterosexual responsiveness in homosexuals. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1973, 6, 355–366.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, D., Becker, R., Leitenberg, and Agras, W. A mechanical strain gauge for recording penile circumference change. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1970, 3, 73–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, D., Reynolds, J., and Agras, W. Gender identity change in a transsexual. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1973, 28, 569–576.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, J., and Johnson, H. The effects of instructional set and autonomic perception on cardiac control. Psychophysiology, 1971, 8, 180–190.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freund, K. A laboratory method for diagnosing predominance of homo- and hetero-erotic interest in the male. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1963, 1, 85–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freund, K. Diagnosing heterosexual pedophilia by means of a test for sexual interest. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1965, 3, 229–234.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freund, K. Diagnosing homo- and heterosexuality and erotic age preference by means of a psychophysiological test. Behavior Research and Therapy, 1967, 5, 209–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geer, J., Morokoff, P., and Greenwood P. Sexual arousal in women: The development of a measurement device for vaginal blood volume. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1974, 3, 559–564.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayakawa, S. I. Semantics and sexuality. In E. Morrison and V. Borosage (Eds.), Human sexuality: Contemporary perspectives. Palo Alto: National Press Books, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hays, W. L. Statistics. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heiman, J. R. Issues in the use of psychophysiology to assess female sexual dysfunction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 1976, 2, 197–204.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heiman, J. R. A psychophysiological exploration of sexual arousal patterns in females and males. Psychophysiology, 1977, 14, 266–274.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henson, D., and Rubin, H. Voluntary control of eroticism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1971, 4, 37–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoon, P., Wincze, J. and Hoon, E. The effects of biofeedback and cognitive mediation upon vaginal blood volume. Behavior Therapy, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, H. The new sex therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laws, D., and Rubin, H. Instructional control of an autonomic sexual response. Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, 1969, 2, 93–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LoPiccolo, J. Direct treatment of sexual dysfunction in the couple. In J. Money and H. Musaph (Eds.), Handbook of sexology. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marks, I. M., and Gelder, M. G. Transvestism and fetishism: Clinical and psychological changes during faradic aversion. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1967, 113, 711–729.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marks, I. M., Gelder, M. G., and Bancroft, J. Sexual deviance two years after elective aversion. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1970, 117, 173–185.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Masters, W. H., and Johnson, V. E. Human sexual response. Boston: Little, Brown, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters, W. H., and Johnson, V. E. Human sexual inadequacy. Boston: Little, Brown, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConaghy, N. Penile volume change to moving pictures of male and female nudes in heterosexual and homosexual males. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1967, 5, 43–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGovern, K., Stewart, R., and LoPiccolo, J. Secondary orgasmic dysfunction. I. Analysis and strategies for treatment. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1975, 4 (3), 265–275.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, R. Feedback effects on the suppression of an elicited autonomic response: Penile tumescence. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Stony Brook, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarrel, P., Foddy, J., and McKinnon, J. Investigation of human sexual response using a cassette recorder. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1977, 6, 341–348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, D., Tursky, B., Gershorn, E., and Stern, M. Effects of feedback and reinforcement on the control of human systolic blood pressure. Science, 1969, 163, 588–590.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, D., Tursky, B., Gershorn, E., and Stern, M. Differentiation of heart rate and systolic blood pressure in man by operant conditioning. Psychosomatic Medicine, 1970, 32, 417–432.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sintchak, G., and Geer, J. A vaginal photoplethysmograph system. Psychophysiology, 1975, 12 (1), 113–115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, A., LoPiccolo, L., and LoPiccolo, J. Secondary orgasmic dysfunction. II. Case study. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1975, 4 (3), 277–283.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, T., and Engel, B. Operant conditioning of heart rate in patients with premature ventricular contractions. Psychosomatic Medicine, 1971, 23, 301–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wincze, V., Hoon, E., and Hoon, P. A comparison of the physiological responsivity of normal and sexually dysfunctional women during exposure to erotic stimulus. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1976, 20, 44–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Long Island Research Institute, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    Julia R. Heiman

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, School of Medicine, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    Julia R. Heiman

Authors
  1. Julia R. Heiman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA

    Joseph LoPiccolo  & Leslie LoPiccolo  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1978 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Heiman, J.R. (1978). Uses of Psychophysiology in the Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction. In: LoPiccolo, J., LoPiccolo, L. (eds) Handbook of Sex Therapy. Perspectives in Sexuality. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3973-1_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3973-1_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3975-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3973-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation