PSYCH 115 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Erection, Strain Gauge, Tumescence
Document Summary
Usually supported by numerous questionnaires because patients may provide more info on paper than in verbal interview. Demonstrate through actions and interviewing style that they are comfortable talking about these issues. Use vernacular of patient, since they might not be aware of clinical terms. Also covers nonsexual relationship issues, physical health, screens for presence of additional psychological disorders. To rule out variety of medical conditions that can contribute to sexual problems. Some drugs prescribed for hypertension, anxiety, depression often disrupt sexual functioning. To measure directly the physiological aspects of sexual arousal. Assess abilities of individual to become sexually aroused under a variety of conditions while either awake or asleep. Penile strain gauge measures penile erection directly; as penis expands, changes are recorded. Vaginal photo-plethysmograph inserted into vagina and measures amount of light reflected back from vaginal walls. Blood flows to vaginal walls during arousal, so amount of light passing through them decreases with increasing arousal.
