Trends in research on premature ejaculation over the past 25 years

Introduction. The authors posit that, among other things, the increasing popularity of pharmacological remedies has reinvigorated research interest in premature ejaculation (PE). However, the authors also posit that the emphasis has shifted from psychological-behavioral studies to biological-pharmacological studies, thereby distracting researchers from potent psychological/relationship factors known to play important roles in the recovery of overall sexual satisfaction. Aim. To explore actual patterns of research on PE, the authors determined trends in the overall quantity and focus of PE research over the past 25 years. Methods. The two major databases, PsychINFO and MEDLINE, were searched from 1979 to 2006 using several key words to identify all PE-related publications. Main Outcome Measures. Referenced articles on PE were cataloged by year and assigned to broad hypothetically and empirically based categories representing different approaches to the study of this dysfunction. Results. MEDLINE, but not PsychINFO, exhibited a large increase in publications on PE over the past decade. Although the number of publications on PE increased only in MEDLINE, the 25-year trend showed a decline in the proportion of psychological behavior articles in both databases and a concomitant rise in biological and pharmacological articles. Conclusions. Although several explanations might account for these research trends, the authors worry that researchers are missing the opportunity to investigate important biobehavioral interactions underlying ejaculatory response and dysfunction, and to augment the current biopharmacological paradigm by integrating cognitive-behavioral and sex therapy programs into pharmacological PE treatment.