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.
Monga
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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Tan
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Ostermann
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Monga
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Grabois
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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