Evaluation of Sexual Function with Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI) in Spinal Cord Injured Men

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current state of the psychological aspects for the sexual function in spinal cord injured (SCI) men and to provide a basis of sexual rehabilitation program. METHOD: Seventy-seven spinal cord injured men and 87 healthy adults participated and completed Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI). This questionnaire consisted of 10 subtests such as sexual information, experience, drive, attitude, psychological symptoms, affect, gender role, sexual fantasy, body image, and sexual satisfaction. RESULTS: Compared with healthy adults, SCI men had lower sexual experience, drive and satisfaction with a statistical significance (p<0.05). They also had more psychological distress symptoms, negative affect, and negative body image (p<0.05). There was no significant differences between tetraplegia and paraplegia, complete and incomplete injury, nor inpatient and outpatient. However, the SCI men with independent mobility had significantly greater sexual satisfaction, compared with the SCI men with dependent mobility (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Most SCI men had psychologic sexual dysfuctions as well as organic problems, especially among the married men with dependent mobility. We suggest that more aggressive intervention of sexual rehabilitation need to be provided for this group.