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M D Ackerman

Publications and source records attributed to M D Ackerman.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Psychology's role in the assessment of erectile dysfunction: historical precedents, current knowledge, and methods.

This article describes the role of the psychologist in the evaluation of erectile dysfunction. It begins by reviewing current diagnostic criteria and providing a historical overview. Next, current epidemiologic knowledge is summarized, including data on prevalence and recent research examining cognitive, affective, dyadic, and lifestyle etiologic risk factors. This is followed by a state-of-the-science discussion of assessment procedures. Recent psychophysiologic methods are highlighted, including RigiScan monitoring, waking arousal, and diurnal tumescence. It concludes by emphasizing the necessity of continued collaboration between psychology and medicine for both evaluation and treatment.

Erectile Dysfunction

Introduction to the special section on contemporary issues in human sexuality: research and practice.

Critical issues in human sexuality have changed markedly during the past decade and so have the contributions of psychology to the evaluation and treatment of sexual behavior problems. Some of the greatest challenges facing psychologists today include the increasing emphasis on medical interventions for the male sexual disorders and the relative decline of traditional behavioral sex therapies, the recalcitrance of sexual desire disorders, the prevention of "unsafe" sexual behavior, and the limited understanding of female sexuality. This overview introduces a series of 5 articles that examine these selected critical issues in human sexuality. Guidelines for clinical practice and directions for future research are highlighted.

Female

Patient-reported erectile dysfunction: a cross-validation study.

Previous work highlighting a significant correspondence between patient-reported sex history information and physiological indices of erectile functioning was cross-validated. The matched sample comprised of 46 older male veterans presenting with erectile dysfunction, with many experiencing chronic physical illnesses. All subjects underwent a comprehensive medical and psychological evaluation, followed by 2 consecutive nights of in-hospital Rigiscan diagnostic monitoring, to evaluate penile rigidity, tumescence, and duration of erectile episodes. Stringent criteria were employed to control for confounding of Rigiscan results, with elimination from the study for affective, thought, or sleep disorders. Results from the multiple regression analyses showed that patient reports of AM erections and erectile quality accounted for significant proportions of the variance in the Rigiscan criterion measures, with 3 of the 4 R2 values falling within the Herzberg criterion for cross-validation. Results confirm the diagnostic significance of patient self-report for the population of older, chronically ill men who present with impaired erectile functioning.

Adult

Patient-reported sexual symptomatology in predicting functional and insufficient erectile capacity.

We evaluated the clinical utility of patient-reported erectile functioning information in discriminating Rigiscan-determined functional (greater than or equal to 70% penile tip and base rigidity and greater than or equal to 10 minutes' duration) from insufficient (less than 40% penile tip and base rigidity and less than or equal to 6 minutes' duration) erectile capacity, in a population of chronically ill men presenting with erectile dysfunction. Forty-three male veterans completed an extensive medical and psychologic evaluation, including a detailed assessment of sexual functioning, and then underwent two consecutive nights of supervised in-hospital Rigiscan sleep evaluations. Results of discriminant function analysis indicated that patient reports of morning erections and ejaculatory ability accurately predicted group membership for functional (96.7%) and insufficient (100%) categories. Careful attention to patient self-report is suggested for the urologist's initial appraisal of erectile dysfunction in populations of older, chronically ill men.

Erectile Dysfunction

The predictive significance of patient-reported sexual functioning in RigiScan sleep evaluations.

We evaluated the relevance of patient reported sex history information in predicting erectile functioning as measured by the RigiScan monitor. A total of 46 male veterans who presented with erectile dysfunction completed an extensive medical and psychological evaluation including a sexual history, and then underwent 2 consecutive nights of inhospital RigiScan sleep evaluation performed under supervision. Multivariate analyses indicated a significant relationship among patient reported sex history information, and RigiScan measurements of tip and base duration, and rigidity. The sex history item with the greatest predictive power was the question regarding early morning erections. The results of this study highlight the importance of patient reported information, and the significance of obtaining a detailed sex history in the evaluation of older, primarily chronically ill patients who present with erectile dysfunction.

Adult

Assessment of erectile dysfunction in diabetic men: the clinical relevance of self-reported sexual functioning.

Diabetes mellitus is commonly associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). Fifty-three diabetic male veterans presenting with ED underwent an extensive medical examination, psychological evaluation, and a detailed assessment of sexual functioning. They then underwent two consecutive nights of inhospital Rigiscan monitoring to assess erectile capacity. Multivariate analyses indicated that patient reports of a.m. erections and erectile quality were highly predictive of Rigiscan measures of penile tip and base rigidity and duration of erectile episodes. These results highlight the importance of attending to patient reports of specific sexual symptomatology in the evaluation of diabetic patients presenting with ED.

Adult

Acute and chronic pain: pain dimensions and psychological status.

One hundred and ten outpatients with either acute or chronic low-back pain completed the McGill Pain Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Life Experiences Survey. Acutes and chronics did not differ on dimensions of pain, but significant correlations between pain dimensions and depression and state anxiety were found for chronics. Both groups showed elevated state anxiety; chronics also evidenced mild depression. Combined scores on depression, anxiety, and negative life change predicted sensory and affective pain for the pooled sample. These results confirm the role of psychological variables in the experience of clinical pain and underscore the highly affective nature of chronic pain.

Adaptation, Psychological

The relationship between sex-role orientation and the type A behavior pattern: a test of the main effect hypothesis.

Examined the relationship between sex-role orientation and the Type A behavior pattern. Eighty undergraduates were classified as high or low on masculinity and femininity on the basis of Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) formed on student Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) scores for pooled Ss, for males, and for females; each yielded a main effect for masculinity. JAS scores were correlated positively with BSRI Masculinity scores and not correlated with BSRI Femininity scores across pooled Ss, across males, and across females. These results are discussed in terms of their research and treatment implications.

Adult