Dimensions of sexual dysfunction in Parkinson disease.
OBJECTIVE
The authors sought to better understand the factors related to sexual dysfunction in Parkinson disease (PD).


METHODS
Twenty-one PD patients and their partners received the Derogatis Interview for Sexual Functioning-Self Report (DISF-SR). Additional measures assessed disease severity, autonomic dysfunction, mood, and social circumstance.


RESULTS
Data from 17 male patients demonstrated profound impairment in the dimensions of sexual arousal, behavior, orgasm, and drive, with most patients scoring below the 1st percentile on these Derogatis Interview subscales. All four dimensions showed significant intercorrelations. In contrast, 53% of patients scored above the 50th percentile in sexual fantasy. Sexual fantasy subscale scores were positively correlated with duration of PD.


CONCLUSIONS
The usefulness of the DISF-SR in this PD population was limited by extremely low scores and strong correlations among the subscales. The increase in sexual fantasy with greater PD duration suggests that patients with advancing disease remain interested in sex and that sexual dysfunction in PD is clinically relevant in this group.
Yu
Mi
M
Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, USA. MYu@chpnet.org
Roane
David M
DM
Miner
Christian R
CR
Fleming
Megan
M
Rogers
John D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011584:Psychology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires