Download PDF
Pharmacopsychiatry 2007; 40(5): 183-190
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-985880
Original Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sexuality in Male Psychiatric Inpatients. A Descriptive Comparison of Psychiatric Patients, Patients with Epilepsy and Healthy Volunteers

J. Westheide 1 , C. Helmstaedter 2 , C. Elger 2 , D. Cooper-Mahkorn 2 , B. Sträter 1 , W. Maier 1 , K. U. Kühn 1
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
  • 2Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

received 26.02.2007 revised 25.06.2007

accepted 03.07.2007

Publication Date:
17 September 2007 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Introduction: The majority of psychiatric patients suffer from sexual dysfunction. Although sexual impairment is a major cause for non-compliance in psychiatric patients, it remains underdiagnosed by the attending physician. Therefore, the aim of the following study was to examine sexual behaviour and sexual dysfunction in a large sample of psychiatric patients.

Methods: Male psychiatric inpatients received a questionnaire for sexuality (“Sexualitätsfragebogen für Männer”, SFM) examining various aspects of sexual behaviour (e.g., value of sexuality, sexual dysfunction). Questionnaires from 351 patients were analysed. Additionally, 55 male healthy controls and 52 male patients with epilepsy were recruited.

Results: Psychiatric patients demonstrated more severe sexual dysfunction in the acute phase of their illness as well as in the premorbid time period compared with healthy controls. Patients with epilepsy showed only mild current sexual dysfunction (in the acute phase of the illness), with the exception of persisting erectile dysfunction. When comparing the two groups of patients, the psychiatric patients reported more current sexual impairments.

Discussion: Sexual dysfunction is not limited to the acute phase of psychiatric illnesses. Hence, treatment and follow-up must be geared towards such aspects of the quality of life while focussing on coping strategies.

References

  • 1 Andersch S, Hetta J. A 15-year follow-up study of patients with panic disorder.  Eur Psychiatry. 2003;  18 401-408
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Braun M, Klotz T, Reifenrath B, Wassmer G, Engelmann U. “KEED” First German-language validated questionnaire for assessing sexual function [in German].  Aktuelle Urologie. 1998;  29 300-305
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Cohen S, Kuhn KU, Bender S, Erfurth A, Gastpar M, Murafi A, Rothermundt M, Signerski J, Strater B, Teusch L, Weig W, Welling A, Westheide J, Huber TJ. Sexual impairment in psychiatric inpatients: focus on depression.  Pharmacopsychiatry. 2007;  40 58-63
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Daniele A, Azzoni A, Bizzi A, Rossi A, Gainotti G, Mazza S. Sexual behavior and hemispheric laterality of the focus in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.  Biol Psychiatry. 1997;  42 617-624
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Duncan S, Blacklaw J, Beastall GH, Brodie MJ. Antiepileptic drug therapy and sexual function in men with epilepsy.  Epilepsia. 1999;  40 197-204
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Finn SE, Bailey JM, Schultz RT, Faber R. Subjective utility ratings of neuroleptics in treating schizophrenia.  Psychol Med. 1990;  20 843-848
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Hofer A, Rettenbacher MA, Widschwendter CG, Kemmler G, Hummer M, Fleischhacker WW. Correlates of subjective and functional outcomes in outpatient clinic attendees with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.  Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006;  256 246-255
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Jalava M, Sillanpaa M. Reproductive activity and offspring health of young adults with childhood-onset epilepsy: a controlled study.  Epilepsia. 1997;  38 532-540
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Karow A, Schnedler D, Naber D. What would the patient choose? Subjective comparison of atypical and typical neuroleptics.  Pharmacopsychiatry. 2006;  39 47-51
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Kelly DL, Conley RR. A randomized double-blind 12-week study of quetiapine, risperidone or fluphenazine on sexual functioning in people with schizophrenia.  Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2006;  31 340-346
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Kennedy SH, Dickens SE, Eisfeld BS, Bagby RM. Sexual dysfunction before antidepressant therapy in major depression.  J Affect Disord. 1999;  56 201-208
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Kennedy N, Abbott R, Paykel ES. Longitudinal syndromal and sub-syndromal symptoms after severe depression: 10-year follow-up study.  Br J Psychiatry. 2004;  184 330-336
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Lambert M, Conus P, Eide P, Mass R, Karow A, Moritz S, Golks D, Naber D. Impact of present and past antipsychotic side effects on attitude toward typical antipsychotic treatment and adherence.  Eur Psychiatry. 2004;  19 415-422
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 MacGrath BM, Tempier RP. Patients’ opinions of olanzapine and risperidone following long-term treatment: results from a cross-sectional survey.  Pharmacopsychiatry. 2005;  38 147-157
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Naber D. (Ed). .Atypical neuroleptics in the treatment of schizophrenic patients [in German]. 2nd Edition. Bremen: Uni-Med Publisher 2000
  • 16 Okabe K, Mishima N. Frequency of marital intercourse among patients with psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders in Japan.  J Sex Marital Ther. 2004;  30 3-11
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Perkins DO, Gu H, Boteva K, Lieberman JA. Relationship between duration of untreated psychosis and outcome in first-episode schizophrenia: a critical review and meta-analysis.  Am J Psychiatry. 2005;  162 1785-1804
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Raja M, Azzoni A. Sexual behavior and sexual problems among patients with severe chronic psychoses.  Eur Psychiatry. 2003;  18 70-76
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Rosen RC, Riley A, Wagner G, Osterloh IH, Kirkpatrick J, Mishra A. The international index of erectile function (IIEF): a multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction.  Urology. 1997;  49 822-830
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Rosenberg KP, Bleiberg KL, Koscis J, Gross C. A survey of sexual side effects among severely mentally ill patients taking psychotropic medications: impact on compliance.  J Sex Marital Ther. 2003;  29 289-296
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Smaldone M, Sukkarieh T, Reda A, Khan A. Epilepsy and erectile dysfunction: a review.  Seizure. 2004;  13 453-459
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Stahl SM. The psychopharmacology of sex, part 2: effects of drugs and disease on the 3 phases of human sexual response.  J Clin Psychiatry. 2001;  62 147-148
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Waldinger MD, Zwinderman AH, Olivier B. Antidepressants and ejaculation: a double-blind, randomized, fixed-dose study with mirtazapine and paroxetine.  J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2003;  23 467-470
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Wiltink J, Hauck EW, Phadayanon M, Weidner W, Beutel ME. Validation of the German version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) in patients with erectile dysfunction, Peyronie's disease and controls.  Int J Impot Res. 2003;  15 192-197
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Westheide J, Cohen S, Bender S, Cooper-Mahkorn D, Erfurth A, Gastpar M, Huber TJ, Maier W, Murafi A, Rothermund M, Signerski J, Sträter B, Teusch L, Weig W, Welling A, Kühn KU. Sexual dysfunction in psychiatric inpatients. The role of antipsychotic medication.  Pharmacopsychiatry. 40 140-145
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Zajecka J. Strategies for the treatment of antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction.  J Clin Psychiatry. 2001;  62 35-43
    PubMedGoogle Scholar

Correspondence

Dr. J. Westheide

Department of Psychiatry

University of Bonn

Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25

53105 Bonn

Germany

Phone: +49/228/287 156 83

Fax: +49/228/287 169 49

Email: jens.westheide@ukb.uni-bonn.de

      >