Sexuality and sexual adjustment of patients with chronic pain.
OBJECTIVE
To describe sexual functioning and its relationship with psychological measures in chronic pain patients.


METHODS
It is a self report survey with a convenience sample. Seventy consenting chronic pain patients responded to a questionnaire. Mean age was 49.9 years (range 29-74); mean pain duration was 146.7 months (range 6-624). Participants endorsed a wide variety of pain conditions. INSTRUMENTS USED: (1) Derogatis Inventory of Sexual Functioning; (2) Multidimensional Pain Inventory; (3) Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale: (4) Multidimensional Health Locus of Control; (5) Hopkins Symptom Check List; (6) Vanderbilt Pain Management Inventory; (7) Coping Strategies Questionnaire.


RESULTS
Sixty-six per cent of patients were interested in sex, 50% were satisfied with current sexual partner and 20% considered current sexual life to be adequate. Over 70% fantasized at least once a month. Only 44% experienced normal arousal during intercourse; 33% practiced masturbation and 47% were involved in sexual intercourse or oral sex at least once a month. The majority were dissatisfied with orgasmic activities. No relationship was found between pain severity, duration, frequency and sexual functioning. A relationship was found between disability status, age and several psychological variables and various domains of sexual functioning. CONCLUSIONS; Sexual problems are common in chronic pain patients. Patients who reported symptoms of depression and distress had more sexual problems.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
T N
TN
Monga
G
G
Tan
H J
HJ
Ostermann
U
U
Monga
M
M
Grabois
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003625:Data Collection; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires