Treating Erectile Dysfunction With Behavior Therapy

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition that is common as men age, but it is not inevitable. ED is characterized by a man's inability to maintain an erection during intercourse. According to The National Institutes of Health (NIH) erectile dysfunction can be treated effectively with behavior therapy when it also involves the man's partner. Untreated, ED can create mental stress that can affect every area of a man's life.

Performance anxiety

Once a man has experienced a bout of erectile dysfunction, he may develop performance anxiety that increases the risk of not achieving an erection in the future. NIH researchers report that therapists first should eliminate other psychological causes of ED, such as the loss of a partner, alcohol or drug dependence or dysfunctional relationships. Therapy then can focus on the performance anxiety. Therapy should focus on eliminating distractions a couple may face while trying to have sex and teach them how to communicate about sex and their needs. Therapy should include education about how the sexual organs operate to allow them to understand various aspects of the experience and how they might cope.

Depression

While depression often is the cause of erectile dysfunction, it also occurs following repeated failures to perform sexually. Therapy that addresses depression can be helpful in treating ED, report NIH doctors. Behavioral therapy for depression may include focus on life changes that may have occurred and are causing the ED, report doctors at American Academy of Family Physicians. By understanding that the ED began when he lost a job or went through a difficult divorce, compromising his ability to sustain an erection, a man can make changes to remedy the situation. Patients receiving therapy for depression due to stress often can change their situation or find ways to accept the past and move on. Additionally, when patients begin having problems with erections after starting on antidepressants, a change in the prescription may help relieve the problems.

Stress

Using behavioral therapy to treat stress often involves educating patients about stress-reducing techniques such as deep breathing or meditation. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that therapy to treat pre-existing stress and the additional stress brought on by ED works best when done with a partner. Counselors at Brown University advise students to learn stress management techniques to avoid erectile dysfunction. Behavioral therapy may include lessons on how to relax through thinking positive thoughts. Patients may wish to try other behaviors that can help with relaxation, such as yoga or tai chi. Visualization, or guided imagery, techniques are used successfully in behavior therapy to treat ED.