Percentage of Organic Versus Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction in Male Patients

In the Athens Medical Sex Institute (ISIA), we investigated many patients with sexual dysfunction, among them the commoner complain being erectile dysfunction in the male population. The investigation and diagnostic evaluation of all erectile dysfunction patients has been made using an integrated three-team approach, involving the psychologist, endocrinologist and urologist as specialists in order to diagnose any underlying andrological disorder. After this evaluation, all erectile patients, together with therapists and physicians had an extended meeting where the diagnosis and possibility of treatment were presented. Thus a definite organic versus psychogenic diagnosis was achieved in most cases. Among 165 male patients with erectile dysfunction, 60 (36.4%) considered their condition as organic, 52 (31.5%) rated it as mostly psychogenic, 54 (27.2%) thought it could be of mixed aetiology and 8 patients (4.8%) could not comment at all as to the possible cause. From these165 male patients with erectile dysfunction we rated 56 patients (33.9%) as having organic erectile disorder. Of these 56 patients, 30 (18.2%) had probable vascular erectile dysfunction, while 16 (9.7%) had endocrine (prolactin related) disorder. 109 patients (66.1%) were diagnosed as having psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Psychogenic involvement irrespectively of concomitant organic pathology was found in 153 patients (92.7%). We conclude that the three-team integrated approach we used can definitely differentiate those men they need further organic (urological/endocrine) work up, while takes into consideration the psychological parameters in all cases studied.