Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition - Cross-Examining Psych Doctors, Tip #89

When the doctor diagnoses a Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition, be sure to look for the data in their report that shows the patient met the diagnostic criteria for that disorder.  According to the DSM-IV-TR, in order to diagnose correctly either Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition (608.89) it is necessary to show that there is a deficit or absence of sexual fantasies as well as a lack of a desire for sexual activity that is judged to be entirely due to the direct physiological effects of a general medical condition.  As such, there must be evidence from the history, physical examination or laboratory findings that the dysfunction is fully explained by the direct physiological effects of an existing general medical condition.  As specified in the DSM-IV-TR, there are a variety of neurological, endocrine, vascular, and genitourinary conditions such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus and urethral infections that can produce sexual dysfunction in this manner.  However, simply not wanting to engage in intercourse or other sexual behavior because of pain or some other physical condition does not meet the DSM-IV-TR criteria for establishing that there is dysfunction as a result of a direct physiological mechanism.