Chronic diseases and sexuality

Journal title RIVISTA DI SESSUOLOGIA CLINICA
Author/s Leonardo Tizi, Adele Fabrizi, Chiara Simonelli
Publishing Year 2014 Issue 2014/1 Language Italian
Pages 15 P. 5-19 File size 55 KB
DOI 10.3280/RSC2014-001001
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Chronic diseases are often associated with problems of a sexual nature, the impact of which can be underestimated and the problems themselves are often undiagnosed. People suffering from chronic conditions may think that sexual difficulties related to the disease may not warrant being mentioned to physicians, and physicians for their part may feel uncomfortable or unprepared in dealing with these topics. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between chronic diseases and sexuality, to consider the implications in the couple relationship, and to identify appropriate methods of intervention by clinicians through the main models of psychosexological counselling currently available. It is found that chronic diseases can have a profound negative effect on relationships and sexual satisfaction for both individuals with the disease and their partners. Even for patients with chronic diseases, sexuality plays a significant role and sexual intimacy is an important mode of communication with their partners. It is the duty of clinicians to guarantee that proper attention be paid to these subjects and it is necessary to have a conceptual framework as well as strategies for a quick understanding of these kind of problems and to render psychosexological therapies more efficient and accessible. .

Keywords: Sexuality, chronic disease, couple, sexual satisfaction, psychosexuological counselling, sexological intervention models

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Leonardo Tizi, Adele Fabrizi, Chiara Simonelli, Malattie croniche e sessualità in "RIVISTA DI SESSUOLOGIA CLINICA" 1/2014, pp 5-19, DOI: 10.3280/RSC2014-001001