title: Sexual dysfunction and hyperprolactinemia in Japanese schizophrenic patients taking antipsychotics.
abstract: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, evaluated by the Nagoya Sexual Function Questionnaire (NSFQ), and hyperprolactinemia in patients with schizophrenia and examine a relationship between sexual dysfunction and serum prolactin levels. This cross-sectional, comparative study was performed using a sample comprising 195 Japanese schizophrenic in- and outpatients treated with antipsychotics (117 males and 78 females). Data were collected from October 2009 to January 2010 using single, cross-sectional ratings of sexual function assessed by the NSFQ and concurrent measurement of serum prolactin levels. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia was high (males 66.7%; females 79.5%). Hyperprolactinemia (>25ng/ml) was highly prevalent among schizophrenia patients, affecting 53.8% of females and 51.3% of males. Among female patients, 16.7% had prolactin levels>100ng/ml. There was no relationship between sexual dysfunction and serum prolactin levels. The present study demonstrated a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction and hyperprolactinemia in Japanese schizophrenia patients. Clinicians should keep these problems in mind and discuss potential solutions with patients to improve patients' quality of life and adherence to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University, Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Kunihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasada
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aleksic
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents