title: Sexual arousal difficulties in women treated with antidepressants: a comparison between escitalopram and fluoxetine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the risk of sexual arousal difficulties between two groups of depressed female patients in remission who were treated with either escitalopram or fluoxetine. Associated factors were also examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study involving 112 female patients attending the psychiatric clinic, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) with depressive disorders as assessed by using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), who had been in remission for the previous 2 months as defined by a score of < or = 10 from an assessment using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and were treated with either fluoxetine or escitalopram. Sexual arousal difficulties were assessed using the arousal subscale of Malay Version of the Female Sexual Function Index (MVFSFI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of sexual arousal difficulties was 41.1% for all subjects. Sexual arousal difficulties occurred in 50.0% of subjects treated with fluoxetine and 32.1% with escitalopram. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.055). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher dose of antidepressant (adjusted OR = 4.08, 95 CI = 1.70-9.81) was significantly associated with female sexual arousal difficulties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of sexual arousal difficulties was higher in female patients who were treated with higher doses of either fluoxetine or escitalopram.
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
authors.forename: Marhani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midi
authors.forename: Sharmilla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanagasundram
authors.forename: Hatta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sidi
authors.forename: Duni
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Asmidar
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Naing
authors.forename: Ng Chong
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015283:Citalopram / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008875:Middle Aged; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D015283:Citalopram