title: Satisfaction with sex life among patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: Whilst subjective quality of life has been extensively studied in patients with schizophrenia, little is known specifically about their satisfaction with their sex lives. Aim To assess the level of satisfaction with sex lives of patients with schizophrenia and explore patient characteristics associated with lower satisfaction.
  
  
  
  Data of five independent samples of patients with schizophrenia or related disorders (ICD-10 F20-29) were analysed. Quality of life including satisfaction with sex life was assessed on the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life.
  
  
  
  Across all patients (N=1404), satisfaction with sex life was significantly lower than satisfaction with any other life domain, and in each sample mean scores were below the middle scale point, indicating explicit dissatisfaction. Lower satisfaction was associated with male gender, being unmarried and more affective symptoms.
  
  
  
  Patients with schizophrenia experience their sex life as an area of particular dissatisfaction. Future research should identify context and reasons for this dissatisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Services Development, Newham Centre for Mental Health, E13 8SP London, UK. Electronic address: Neelam.laxhman@elft.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Neelam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laxhman
authors.affiliation: Pragmatic Clinical Trials Unit, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.affiliation: Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Services Development, Newham Centre for Mental Health, E13 8SP London, UK.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Priebe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Dissatisfaction; Quality of life; Schizophrenia; Sex satisfaction