MedWire News: The nature of sexual dysfunction reported by schizophrenia patients is comparable to that seen in the general population, but the rate at which such dysfunction occurs is higher in patients, conclude UK researchers.
There has been little investigation of sexual functioning and psychosexual problems in schizophrenia patients. However, sexual desire and performance in patients is likely affected by poor physical health, lack of knowledge about the benefits of diet and exercise, and poor social networks and restricted relationships.
Ellen Harley, from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and colleagues therefore used a semi-structured interview to perform a cross-sectional survey of 137 schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder patients (59% male) aged 18–65 years from a single geographic area.
In all, 30% of patients were currently in a relationship, 58% had never had an intimate relationship, and 88% had never had children. Significantly more women than men were currently in a relationship, while significantly more men than women had never been in an intimate relationship and never had children.
Women were more likely to be sexually active than men, at 30% versus 16%. However, women were more likely to report at least one dysfunction than men, at 82.1% versus 74.0% and an odds ratio of 1.43. While the rates of dysfunction were significantly higher than those recorded in two previous studies of the general population, the patterns of dysfunction were similar.
Men with arousal problems were significantly older than those without such problems (55 versus 33.50 years) and were more likely to report at least one physical health problem (55% versus 16%). No such pattern was seen in women. Patients involved in an intimate relationship were also more likely to report orgasm problems than those not in such a relationship, at 46% versus 19%.
Interestingly, the team found that the researcher conducting the interview was more than twice as likely to record a sexual problem as the respondent, at 77.4% versus 52.6%. The odds ratios for male and female participants were 2.60 and 3.12, respectively.
They researchers say: “Sexual functioning should be regarded as part of the physical and mental well-being of the population and sexual dysfunction should be included in the array of physical health problems experienced by people with schizophrenia that need to be enquired about as part of the physical health checks carried out by general practitioners.”
They add: “Our study has demonstrated that patients are willing to discuss these issues provided that they are explored with tact, a non-judgemental attitude and understanding.”
The findings are published in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
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