Burden of phase-specific sexual dysfunction with SSRIs.
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.
Clayton
Anita
A
Department of Psychiatric Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. ahc8v@virginia.edu
Keller
Adrienne
A
McGarvey
Elizabeth L
EL
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
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009638:Norepinephrine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors