Sexual impairment in psychiatric inpatients: focus on depression.
BACKGROUND
Although sexual side effects are a common reason for noncompliance with medication, information on impairment of sexuality in psychiatric inpatients is scarce.


METHODS
In the present multi-center study, data on several aspects of sexual functioning were collected in psychiatric inpatients using a previously validated questionnaire.


RESULTS
A high overall prevalence of sexual dysfunction was reported by participants and was highest in depressed subjects. Patients receiving antidepressants suffered from more frequent and more severe impairment of sexuality than did subjects receiving neither antidepressants nor antipsychotics or opioids.


CONCLUSIONS
Judging from this data, sexual impairment appears to be a frequent and underestimated problem in psychiatric inpatients with a high prevalence across all diagnostic groups, particularly in depressed subjects. Female patients attribute this impairment mainly to their mental illness, whereas male patients tend to assign their impairments primarily to their medication.
Cohen
S
S
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Rheinische Kliniken Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Bergische Landstrasse 2, Düsseldorf. simon.cohen@uni-duesseldorf.de
Kühn
K-U
KU
Bender
S
S
Erfurth
A
A
Gastpar
M
M
Murafi
A
A
Rothermundt
M
M
Signerski
J
J
Sträter
B
B
Teusch
L
L
Weig
W
W
Welling
A
A
Westheide
J
J
Huber
T J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents