What is it about?

The present study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of a Persian version of the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (P-FSDS-R) among a sample of healthy Iranian women

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Why is it important?

Masters and Johnson (1966) introduced a model of four stages of sexual response including excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. Th e model provides a basis for international diagnostic systems such as DSM-IV and DSM-V (American Psychiatric Association 1994, 2013) and ICD-10 (World Health Organization 1992). Although these diagnostic systems are different, they are common in the two following characteristics: 1- Female sexual dysfunctions are classified into three broad categories of disorders in sexual interest/arousal, female orgasmic disorder and genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorders, and 2- experience of sexually related personal distress has been emphasized as one of the necessary diagnostic criteria. Th is means that female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is diagnosed only when both criteria of low sexual function and sexual distress are present.

Perspectives

Our findings indicate that women may experience sexual problems without being distressed by them and vice versa. In fact, the emotional and sexual quality of the relationship with the partner is one of the important determinants of sexual distress in women. On the other hand, a poor emotional relationship with the partner might lead to distressed feelings when having a sexual relationship with the partner, without the existence of sexual dysfunction problems. For example, Bancroft et al. (2003) have found that sexual problems are not strong predictors of sexual distress in women, but the strongest predictors of sexual distress were general emotional well-being as well as the quality of the emotional relationship with the partner during sexual activity. Th is finding is indicative of importance of mental health and the quality of relationship with the partner in sexual distress experiences.

Dr Mohammad Reza Safarinejad
University of Medical Sceices

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This page is a summary of: Psychometric properties of the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised among a sample of non-clinical Iranian women, International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, July 2014, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.3109/13651501.2014.940048.
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