Data support a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of ED.
17 Psychological counseling has been shown to have a positive effect on barriers to treatment and on compliance. Primary care physicians need to determine not only their own comfort level with discussions about sexuality and sexual dysfunction, but also whether the patient's major issues are psychogenic, relational, or organic (in most cases, they will find all), and whether to refer to a psychologist, a marriage counselor, or sex therapist.
8 Even though about 75% of patients complaining of ED have an organic cause (resulting from vascular, neuronal, or endocrine factors), eight empirical studies have demonstrated the significance that psychosocial, cognitive, and interpersonal variables play a role in exacerbating or maintaining even those cases of ED that originate in illness or disease.
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