Female Sexual Arousal Disorder - Cross-Examining Psych Doctors, Tip #88

When the doctor diagnoses a Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (302.72), be sure to look for the data in their report that shows the patient met the diagnostic criteria for that disorder.  In this regard, according to the DSM-IV-TR, the essential feature of a Female Sexual Arousal Disorder is a persistent or recurring inability to attain or maintain an adequate lubrication-swelling response of sexual excitement until completion of the sexual activity.  Simply losing interest in sexual activity for such reasons as having too much pain from a physical injury is insufficient to meet the diagnostic criteria, which are presented below.

A.    A persistent or reoccurring inability to attain or to maintain “an adequate lubrication-swelling response of sexual excitement” until the completion of the sexual activity.

B.    The inability described in Criterion A causes marked distress and/or interpersonal difficulty.

C.    The inability described in Criterion A is not better accounted for by another Axis I disorder, except another Sexual Dysfunction, and is not due exclusively to the direct physiological effects of a substance and/or a general medical condition.