title: Burden of phase-specific sexual dysfunction with SSRIs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines phase-specific sexual dysfunction among patients who are being treated for major depression and who do not meet criteria for global sexual dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  6297 adult outpatients receiving antidepressant monotherapy completed the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ). The sub-sample for this study (n = 3114) comprises participants who were receiving treatment with a SSRI or SNRI and did not meet the gender-specific criterion for global sexual dysfunction on the CSFQ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among this sub-sample, 95.6% of women and 97.9% of men exhibited impairment in at least one phase of sexual functioning. Men were significantly more likely than women to experience dysfunction in the desire phase (91.2% vs. 79.0%; OR = 2.76; 95% C.I. = 2.14 to 3.5) and the orgasmic phase (85.1% vs. 45.4%; OR = 6.9; 95% C.I. = 5.6 to 8.4) but were significantly less likely than women to experience dysfunction in the arousal phase (71.9% vs. 83.3%; OR = .51; 95% C.I. = .43 to .62). The prevalence of phase-specific dysfunction did not vary significantly by SSRI/SNRI for males or females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients who do not experience clinically significant global sexual dysfunction on SSRI/SNRI monotherapy, dysfunction in at least one phase of the sexual response cycle is very common and may reduce sexual health-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatric Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. ahc8v@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: McGarvey
mesh_terms: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D009948:Orgasm / Q000187:drug effects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009638:Norepinephrine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors