Sexual Dysfunctions

Likely the most prevalent set of disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the sexual dysfunctions require a bio-psycho-social approach to the investigation of etiology and to the effective management of assessment and treatment. Covering DSM sexual dysfunction diagnoses and comparing them to ICD-11 conditions related to sexual health, this chapter reviews the latest research on the myriad factors that contribute to the development of sexual difficulties and offers evidence-based clinical recommendations for their comprehensive assessment and concurrent multi-disciplinary treatment. Considering the ubiquity of sexual function concerns and their interference with individual and relational well-being, the treatment of sexual dysfunctions should be within the reach of all mental health professionals. The comorbidity of sexual dysfunctions with common illnesses, as well as their association with widely prescribed medications also suggest the involvement of multidisciplinary teams addressing the multifactorial nature of sexual function.