The relation of sexual dysfunction to depression and anxiety in patients with Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we aimed to find out whether sexual dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) was associated to PD-related disability and whether this relationship was modulated by depressive and anxiety symptoms.


METHODS
Eighty-nine consecutive patients with idiopathic PD who attended to our movement disorders outpatient clinics between January 2011 and June 2014 were included in this study. The diagnosis of PD was confirmed by a movement disorders specialists in Neurology, according to UK Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank Criteria. The Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor was used to assess motor disability and Hoehn and Yahr stage (H&Y) was used to establish disease severity. Cognitive function was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination. Patients were also administered the Hamilton depression (HAMD) and anxiety (HAMA) rating scales. The sexual functions of the patients were rated by applying the Turkish version of the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX).


RESULTS
The mean age at the time of the study visit was 67.74±9.05. Male/female ratio was 1.87. Mean UPDRS total was 29.06±13.96 and mean UPDRS motor was 17.62±9.07. Mean HAMD score was 13.92±10.86, 58.4% of the patients had minor or major depression; and mean HAMA score was 7.94±6.49, 56.2% of the patients had minor or major anxiety. The mean ASEX score was 18.54±7.27 out of a maximum of 30. ASEX total scores were correlated with age, H&Y stage and HAMA scores. Age and also age at onset were correlated with ASEX subdomains except sexual desire. There was no correlation between disease duration and ASEX subdomains. UPDRS motor score was correlated with erection/lubrication. HAMD was only correlated with orgasm satisfaction. HAMA score was correlated with stimulation and orgasm.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with PD, there may be a common factor that modulates both depression, anxiety and sexual function. Further studies are needed to clarify the exact relationship.
1Department of Neurology,School of Medicine,Ordu University,Ordu/Turkey.
Tuba
T
Özcan
2Department of Urology,School of Medicine,Ordu University,Ordu/Turkey.
Erdal
E
Benli
3Department of Psychiatry,School of Medicine,Ordu University,Ordu/Turkey.
Esra Yancar
EY
Demir
1Department of Neurology,School of Medicine,Ordu University,Ordu/Turkey.
Feriha
F
Özer
4Department of Internal Medicine,School of Medicine,Ordu University,Ordu/Turkey.
Yasemin
Y
Kaya
5Department of Neurology,Acipayam State Hospital,Denizli/Turkey.
Canan Erol
CE
Haytan
D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
sexual dysfunction