title: Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia: international variation and underestimation.
abstract: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in schizophrenia patients was investigated as part of this large (n = 7655), prospective, international (27 countries) study. Based on patient reports, sexual dysfunction affected approx. 50% of patients and the prevalence of complaints varied significantly between regions (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of sexual dysfunction, as perceived by psychiatrists, also varied significantly across regions (p < 0.0001). Psychiatrists significantly underestimated the presence of impotence/sexual dysfunction (p < 0.0001) and loss of libido (p < 0.0001), compared to reports from patients. The frequency of sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in patients who had been using prolactin-elevating antipsychotics prior to study entry, compared to those who had been treated with prolactin-sparing antipsychotics (patient reports, p = 0.002; psychiatrist perception, p = 0.0004). This study has shown that the prevalence of sexual dysfunction is high in both male and female patients with schizophrenia and frequently underestimated by psychiatrists. Regional variation is evident in both psychiatrist perceptions and patient reports of sexual dysfunction. Given the importance of sexual function to quality of life and treatment compliance, proactive assessment of sexual function is required to optimize schizophrenia management.
authors.affiliation: Eli Lilly and Company, GmbH, Postfach, Vienna, Austria. d.m@lilly.com
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dossenbach
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anders
authors.forename: Béla
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: Dalia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peciukaitiene
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Krupka-Matuszczyk
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatu
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bondar
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pecenak
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gorjanc
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McBride
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology