Sexual dysfunction associated with second-generation antipsychotics in outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder: an empirical evaluation of olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate sexual dysfunction, as measured by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), in olanzapine-, quetiapine-, and risperidone-treated outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.


METHODS
The sexual functioning of 238 outpatients (age> or =18 years) with diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who took quetiapine (n=57), olanzapine (n=94), or risperidone (n=87) was evaluated with a one-time rating of the ASEX. The dose range for each treatment group was 5 to 40 mg/day (M=16.6 mg/day, SD=7.4) for olanzapine; 1 to 8 mg/day (M=3.9 mg/day, SD=1.6) for risperidone; and 50 to 900 mg/day (M=376.8 mg/day, SD=213.4) for quetiapine. Antipsychotic group designation was based on medication treatment at study entry (i.e., non-random assignment). Participant characteristics were collected to test for treatment group differences and for potential associations with severity of sexual dysfunction. The primary data analysis was a mixed linear model analysis of covariance with age, gender, and presence/absence of antidepressant known to cause sexual dysfunction included as covariates.


RESULTS
There was a significant treatment effect on severity of sexual dysfunction, as measured by ASEX total scores (p=.04). The adjusted average ASEX total scores were lower in the quetiapine (M=17.80) than in the risperidone (M=19.69) or olanzapine (M=20.34) groups. Individual comparisons of the treatments on adjusted average ASEX total scores indicated a significant difference between olanzapine and quetiapine (p=.04), but no difference between risperidone and quetiapine (p=.17) or olanzapine and risperidone (p=.76).


CONCLUSIONS
Quetiapine was associated with less severe sexual dysfunction than olanzapine and risperidone (albeit the effect between risperidone and quetiapine was not statistically significant). Olanzapine and risperidone were associated with a comparable degree of sexual dysfunction. Patients in all three treatment groups, nonetheless, experienced a moderately high degree of sexual dysfunction. Because the patients were not randomized, conclusions must be interpreted within the context of the quasi-experimental design.
Byerly
Matthew J
MJ
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Dallas, TX 75235-8828, USA. Matt.Byerly@UTSouthwestern.edu
Nakonezny
Paul A
PA
Bettcher
Brianne Magouirk
BM
Carmody
Thomas
T
Fisher
Robert
R
Rush
A John
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010045:Outpatients; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine