title: SAMe and sexual functioning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexual dysfunction is a known side effect of antidepressant treatment (ADT), affecting up to 58-73% of those who receive ADT, potentially affecting antidepressant adherence. Consequently, it is vital to develop novel treatments that target antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined whether adjunctive S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAMe) is associated with greater improvement in sexual functioning than adjunctive placebo by measuring changes in sexual functioning using the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ) during a 6-week, single-center, randomized, double-blind trial of SAMe augmentation for SSRI/SNRI- nonresponders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controlling for the degree of arousal dysfunction at baseline as well as the degree of change in HDRS-17 scale scores during the course of the study, men treated with adjunctive SAMe demonstrated significantly lower arousal dysfunction at endpoint than those treated with adjunctive placebo. In addition, controlling for the degree of erectile dysfunction at baseline as well as the degree of change in HDRS-17 scale scores, men treated with adjunctive SAMe demonstrated significantly lower erectile dysfunction at endpoint than those treated with adjunctive placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, we have observed that adjunctive SAMe can have positive benefit on male arousal and erectile dysfunction, independent of improvement in depressive symptoms. These findings are preliminary, and warrant replication. CLINICAL TRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT00093847; titled 'Optimizing the Effectiveness of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in Treatment-Resistant Depression', accessible at: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00093847.
authors.affiliation: Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 1 Bowdoin Square, 6th floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA. cdording@partners.org
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dording
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mischoulon
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Alpert
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Papakostas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors