Sexology population characterization – a two years’ experience at a Lisbon specialized centre

Abstract

Introduction

Within psychiatry, sexology is a very particular area of expertise both by the nature and specificity of its diagnosis, as by the various difficulties and challenges their patients place. Sexology is a sub-specialty niche, but also a vast universe that covers such diverse conditions as paraphilia, gender dysphoria or sexual dysfunction. The sexology consultation of Santa Maria Hospital (HSM) is one of the biggest centers specialized in sexual disorders in the country. Consultations depend on the collaboration of a sexologist psychiatrist and psychiatry residents in close connection with endocrinology, urology and plastic surgery services.

Objective

We intend to conduct a characterization of the population observed in the HSM sexology consultation, in a period of 2 years, from the analyses of different general and diagnosis-specific relevant variables.

Methods

We intent to make a descriptive analysis of the population that attended the sexology consultation over the last 2 years. The sample study refers to all patients who have been specifically referred to sexology department or that directly requested access to this consultation. Data will be collected from medical computer records.

Results

Through systematic evaluation of different variables we can possibly conclude by some putative associations. A comprehensive characterization of this particular population is a possible method for a better and deeper insight on the diagnosis itself.

Conclusions

The purpose of this work is to increase peers’ sensitivity both to sexology and to the patients sexology serves.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.