Differential diagnosis of marital and sexual distress: a multidimensional approach.

Although recent literature has emphasized the inappropriateness of short-term sexual dysfunction therapy for couples with severe marital discord, few objective measures for successfully screening couples have previously been described. The present study utilizes an objective multidimensional measure of marital interaction and sexual functioning in a comparison of couples presenting marital disruption as their primary concern with couples having sexual distress as their chief complaint. The Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI) was found to differentiate between these two treatment groups along several dimensions. Results are discussed in terms of the potential use of the MSI as a screening device in treatment decisions and in assessing the nature and extent of marital complaints.