Social phobia and premature ejaculation: a case-control study.

In a previous case-control study, we found marked differences between a group of patients with male sexual disorders and a control group without any sexual disorder regarding the percentage of social phobia (SP) in each group. On this basis, our aim in this study was to test the hypothesis that premature ejaculation (PE) as a specific sexual disorder and SP might be strongly related, by comparing subjects with PE to a control group without any sexual disorder regarding the diagnosis of SP. Subjects with PE were recruited at private practice sexology settings in France. Control subjects were recruited among inpatients in a surgical ward. Diagnosis of SP was made with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Diagnosis of PE was clinician-rated according to DSM-IV criteria. Eighty-five subjects with PE only were compared to 93 control subjects without any sexual disorder. Forty (47%) subjects with PE versus 8 (9%) controls were diagnosed with SP (chi(2)=3.35, df=1, P=.001). Logistical analysis showed that SP and PE were strongly associated (odds ratio=10.97, 95% CI=4.49-26.06; chi(2)=28.28, df=1, P=.0001). This study is the first to show a clear relationship between SP and PE. Although requiring confirmation by further studies, this finding has immediate clinical consequences given that SP and PE can be treated by the same medication, a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Moreover, since SP is a likely risk factor for PE, this might argue for preventive action on both disorders in children.