A study of 49 sterilized females

Forty-nine women sterilized for eugenic, medical or socioeconomic reasons were studied in the Outpatients Department of a Women's Hospital. Results indicate that in a considerable proportion of cases, physical as well as mental condition was negatively affected. The most significant factors which influenced the outcome of the operation were the personality of the subjects and the reasons for which they were sterilized. It is emphasized that before this operation is undertaken, a full psychiatric assessment should be performed and a social report obtained.

Impotence: prognosis (a controlled study)

Sixty-five patients primarily referred for erectile impotence were investigated and treated in a psychiatric out-patient department. Information was obtained from patients and wherever possible from their partners. Subjects were treated either with chemotherapy or with a modified form of Masters and Johnson's technique. A controlled group were not given any specific treatment. Results indicated that neither chemotherapy or behaviour modification (modified Masters and Johnson's technique) were in any way superior to no treatment. The prognosis was related to the clinical features of the subjects rather than to the form of treatment. Subjects in whom impotence was caused by a specific psychological or physical trauma showed a much better prognosis than those who had an insidious decline in sexual potency without any discernible psychological or physical factors. The decline in these latter subjects with a very poor prognosis was possibly due to inherent physiological factors.

Case report: lithium in reactive depression

A 25-year old woman suffering from severe reactive depression was treated with lithium carbonate 1500 mg per day. On this regime she showed a very good improvement, and after 4 weeks of in-patient treatment was free of symptoms. At 6-months' follow-up there was no recurrence of symptoms; her serum lithium levels were within therapeutic range (0.6 to 1.2 mEq/1).

A study of 65 impotent males

Sixty-five patients primarily referred for erectile impotence were investigated. Information was obtained from patients and their partners. The demographic data are compared with those from a non-impotent psychiatric out-patient group, matched for age. Results indicate that impotent cases do not form a homogeneous population and can be classified into three fairly distinct groups. These groups differ in age, marital status, sex drive, pre-marital and post-marital relationships, duration of illness, etc. Group 1 develop impotence because of anxiety in sexual situations. Group 2 react to the sexual response and personality of their partners, while Group 3 decline, perhaps from inherent constitutional causes. Factors such as religious restrictions, sexual taboos, alcoholism and homosexuality do not appear to be of any aetiological importance.