Is it all in the mind or is it a medical condition?

Experts debate best treatment for PE
Leading psychiatrists and medical authorities in the field of sexual medicine are set to debate the topic: Premature Ejaculation – Psychological Therapy is preferable to Medical Therapy.
Irwin Goldstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine and Director of the Institute for Sexual Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, will moderate this controversial debate at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans, LA during a champagne breakfast on January 15, 2005. The debate is being held as part of an annual conference given by the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA).

According to the World Health Organization, half of men aged 40-70 have sexual dysfunction. Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common forms of dysfunction experienced and it can be caused by either psychological factors or underlying medical conditions.

Arguing in favor of psychological treatment for PE are Michael Perelman, PhD and David Rowland, PhD. Dr. Perelman is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Reproductive Medicine, and Urology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Dr. Rowland currently serves as editor of the Annual Review of Sex Research.

James Barada, MD, Director of the Albany Center for Sexual Health and Culley Carson, MD, Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Urology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will argue in favor of medical therapy.

PE has for a long time been considered a psychological disorder, due to factors such as societal pressures, emotions, and psychological or physical control. However, many question this and cite various physical conditions that may contribute to or be linked to PE. Much success has been reached with treatment by medical therapies, such as PDE-5 inhibitors and anti-depressants. New therapies, including those that raise serotonin, are currently being developed to treat "rapid" ejaculation."