Sexual functioning, psychopathology and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was to characterize relationships among sexual functioning, schizophrenia symptoms and quality of life measures. In addition, sexual functioning was compared among patients treated with different antipsychotic agents.


METHODS
Outpatient subjects were assessed using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD). Quality of life was assessed using two different instruments: observer-rated Heinrich's Quality of Life Scale (QLS) and self-rated The Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS).


RESULTS
One hundred twenty-four patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were enrolled in the study. Eight-six patients (69%) completed at least part of the CSFQ assessment, which generated at least one valid subscale score. High rates of sexual impairment were found in both male and female patients (65%-94% across different subscales). For males, higher scores on the PANSS-positive subscale were associated with a lower frequency of sexual activity (p=0.04). For females, higher scores on the PANSS-positive subscale and PANSS-general psychopathology subscale were significantly associated with more difficulty in both sexual arousal and orgasm (p's<0.05). For both males and females, there were no significant relationships between any CSFQ subscale measures and the quality of life measures (p's>0.05). No significant differences were found among three antipsychotic treatment groups (clozapine, olanzapine or typical agents) on any CSFQ subscale measures or quality of life measures after controlling for PANSS total scores (p's>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Effective treatment strategies still need to be developed to address sexual dysfunction and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia.
Fan
Xiaoduo
X
Schizophrenia Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States. xfan@partners.org
Henderson
David C
DC
Chiang
Elaine
E
Briggs
Leah B Namey
LB
Freudenreich
Oliver
O
Evins
A Eden
AE
Cather
Corinne
C
Goff
Donald C
DC
D000328:Adult; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires