Sexual function and behavior in social phobia.
BACKGROUND
Social phobia is a type of performance and interpersonal anxiety disorder and as such may be associated with sexual dysfunction and avoidance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate sexual function and behavior in patients with social phobia compared with mentally healthy subjects.


METHODS
Eighty subjects participated in the study: 40 consecutive, drug-free outpatients with social phobia (DSM-IV) attending an anxiety disorders clinic between November 1997 and April 1999 and 40 mentally normal controls. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale were used to quantitatively and qualitatively assess sexual function and behavior.


RESULTS
Men with social phobia reported mainly moderate impairment in arousal, orgasm, sexual enjoyment, and subjective satisfaction domains. Women with social phobia reported severe impairment in desire, arousal, sexual activity, and subjective satisfaction. In addition, compared with controls, men with social phobia reported significantly more frequent paid sex (p < .05), and women with social phobia reported a significant paucity of sexual partners (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with social phobia exhibit a wide range of sexual dysfunctions. Men have mainly performance problems, and women have a more pervasive disorder. Patients of both genders show difficulties in sexual interaction. It is important that clinicians be aware of this aspect of social phobia and initiate open discussions of sexual problems with patients.
Bodinger
Liron
L
Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Hermesh
Haggai
H
Aizenberg
Dov
D
Valevski
Avi
A
Marom
Sofi
S
Shiloh
Roni
R
Gothelf
Doron
D
Zemishlany
Zvi
Z
Weizman
Abraham
A
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm / Q000502:physiology; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires