Psychological assessment measures of human sexual functioning in clinical trials.

This current review is intended to provide a brief overview of the major design and psychometric issues inherent in the development of psychological instruments to assess human sexual functioning. Particular emphasis has been placed on those issues which derive from the implementation of psychological tests as outcomes measures in clinical trials. Cardinal psychometric parameters are identified and reviewed, as are supplementary measurement criteria. Five specific psychological instruments are recommended and discussed, and each instrument's design characteristics, psychometric evaluation, and program of validation is briefly reviewed and evaluated.