title: The impact of mental illness and psychotropic medications on sexual functioning: the evidence and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexual dysfunction (SD) occurs frequently in patients with psychiatric illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The published literature on SD in patients with a psychiatric illness and/or taking psychotropic medications was reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SD prevalence and type was found to vary with the specific psychiatric illness and medication treatment. Assessment is complicated by the presence of preexisting or comorbid sexual disorders or medical illness affecting sexual function. Direct questioning about sexual function before treatment and throughout the course of therapy is essential to establish baseline sexual functioning, patient preferences regarding medication side effects, and to identify medication-associated SD. A limited number of management strategies for SD in psychiatric patients have been systematically studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SD with psychiatric illness and its treatment requires early identification, and incorporation of patient preferences for successful management.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. ahc8v@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Anita H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balon
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs