title: An exploration of sexual desire and sexual activities of women with psychosis.
abstract: Sexual disturbances in patients with severe mental disorders can be related to medication, to psychological issues such as self-stigma and anhedonia, but also to the social context. This research aims to gain knowledge of desire and sexual practices in women suffering from schizophrenia. Women outpatients suffering from schizophrenia were compared with healthy women. Contrary to previous research, women with schizophrenia featured dyadic and individual desire similar to women of comparable age. Yet, only half of women with psychosis had sexual practice, either alone or with a partner. They were less satisfied with their activity, both in terms of function and psychological issues such as sexual self-esteem. Keeping into account the fact that most clinicians avoid this topic, this finding underscores the stigmatization these women suffer from, which prevents the opportunity of a possible improvement in this important interpersonal domain.
authors: Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Secteur Eaux-Vives, Rue du 31-Décembre 8, 1207, Geneva, Switzerland, Philippe.huguelet@hcuge.ch.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Huguelet
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Mohr
authors: Céline
authors: C
authors: Miserez
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Castellano
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Lutz
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Boucherie
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Yaron
authors: Nader
authors: N
authors: Perroud
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Bianchi Demicheli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007989:Libido; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013240:Stereotyping; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult