Lack of sexual interest is highly prevalent in the general female population and, for more than two decades, @entity458 has been the most common presenting problem in clinical institutions. The renewed interest in female @entity250 has recently focused on biological and classification aspects whilst personality- and partner-related factors, as well as theoretical concepts, have largely been neglected. After critically reviewing the current diagnostic systems for female desire disorders, this paper specifically addresses the issues of personality and life history factors. In two empirical studies, 50 @entity1 with @entity458 were compared to a group of 100 sexually functional @entity1 by employing both semi-structured clinical interviews and a set of self-developed and standardised questionnaires. The results of these studies indicate that @entity1 seeking help for desire disorders exhibit marked signs of mood instability and a low and fragile self-regulation and self-esteem. In addition, they tend to be more worried, anxious, introverted and conventional when compared to sexually functional @entity1 . Interestingly, no significant differences in the variables relating to partnership quality in general could be detected. Although caution is needed due to sample size and methodological limitations, our results suggest a substantial level of at least subclinical @entity146 symptoms like @entity1316 , low self-esteem and feelings of guilt in @entity1 with @entity458 . These problems seem to be rather deep-rooted and particularly affect the self-regulation and the inner balance of the personality. Overall, female @entity458 , in particular, cannot be conceptualised as discrete phase disorders, but rather as a global inhibition of sexual response together with a history of @entity1316 , specific personality factors and an elevated level of psychological stress. This combination calls for @entity2611 where individual and interpersonal aspects can be taken into account simultaneously. In addition, the ubiquitous comorbidity, both with other @entity250 and with various personality and @entity458 , and the developmental sequence of the sexual problems must be adequately considered.

XXXX : subtypes, classification, personality factors and new directions for treatment.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients'] @entity146 :: ('MESH:D001523', 'Disease') :: ['psychiatric'] @entity458 :: ('MESH:D020018', 'Disease') :: ['sexual dysfunctions and low desire', 'sexual desire disorders', 'low sexual desire', 'psychological problems'] @entity1316 :: ('MESH:D019964', 'Disease') :: ['mood-disorders', 'mood disorder'] @entity2611 :: ('MESH:D005532', 'Disease') :: ['broad-band treatment approaches'] @entity250 :: ('MESH:D012735', 'Disease') :: ['sexual dysfunction', 'sexual dysfunctions']
@entity458 :: (MESH:D020018,Disease) :: ['Female sexual desire disorders']
