Multidisciplinary survey of erectile impotence

A study was done of 220 men referred principally by family physicians to a multidisciplinary erectile dysfunction study group to determine the factors causing or contributing to impotence that had persisted for more than 2 months and for which no cause was apparent. The men were aged 21 to 79 (mean 50.3) years, and the duration of impotence was a few months to 15 years (mean 2.65 years). The men were to be assessed from general medical, endocrinologic/metabolic, psychiatric and urogenital viewpoints. The significance of the causal or contributory factors detected was scored by application of defined criteria and a four-point scale. The degree of loss of potency and of libido as well as level of concern were also scored by each specialist. Impotence was complete in 60%, and an associated decline in libido was reported by 38%. The level of concern was high--that is, normal--in 81% and slightly reduced in 9%. Full investigation by all the specialists was precluded by the severity of other conditions in 16 patients, by the return of potency following relief of anxiety/depression or genitourinary tract infection in 16 and for logistic or other reasons in 34. Although the cause of the impotence could be attributed in 186 of the patients, only 154 were fully assessed. Among these patients general medical factors were contributory in 46%, endocrinologic/metabolic factors in 44%, psychogenic factors (primary or secondary) in 60% and urogenital factors in 49%. Multiple contributing factors were identified in 65%, which underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to assessing many cases of impotence.