title: Assessment of Sexual Dysfunction Symptoms in Female Drug Users: Standardized vs. Unstandardized Methods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate whether there is a difference in the identified prevalence between the assessment of symptoms of sexual dysfunction in female drug users using a standardized scale and by means of a nonstandardized set of questions about sexual dysfunctions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted with two groups of substance-dependent women using the Drug Abuse Screening Test, the Short Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence for the evaluation of the severity of dependence, and the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups, the severity of dependence and the prevalence of symptoms of sexual dysfunctions in women were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of standardized and nonstandardized instruments to assess sexual dysfunction symptoms is an essential resource for the provision of good-quality care to this clientele.
authors.affiliation: a Federal University of São Paulo, National Institute of Alcohol and Drugs Policy , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diehl
authors.affiliation: b Sakina Counselling Institute , Sakina , Mauritius.
authors.forename: G Hussein
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Rassool
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel Antônio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Nursing at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pillon
authors.affiliation: a Federal University of São Paulo, National Institute of Alcohol and Drugs Policy , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Ronaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laranjeira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Sexual dysfunction; substance-related disorders; symptom assessment; women