Incidence of Sexual Dysfunction inAntidepressant Therapy of Out-patients at Brno Department of Psychiatry

Overview

The paper surveys the incidence of sexual dysfunction in association with various groups ofantidepressants in both randomised and non-randomised trial using scales, questionnaires, orstructured interviews focusing on sexual dysfunction. The highest number of sexual dysfunction wasfound with SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), the most frequently prescribed groupof antidepressants. Antidepressants with other mechanisms of action had lower incidence of sexualdysfunction; the issue with them is their narrower range of indications.The drugs most often prescribed to out-patients in clinical practice of the Department ofPsychiatry of Brno were SSRIs, most often in the neurotic disorder indication. Fifty patients takingantidepressants in monotherapy on a longer-term basis were interviewed using the ASEX (Arizonasexual experience) quesionnaire and the effect of therapy was assessed on the scale CGI 1. Fortyone patients were administered SSRIs: dysfunction associated with them was found in 16 patients,i.e. 39% of the population. The variation in incidence of sexual dysfunction differentiating betweenthe individual SSRIs was not statistically signifi cant. A positive correlation was established betweenseverity of disorder as measured on CGI 1 and incidence of sexual dysfunction. The above mentionedresults show that a higher incidence of sexual dysfunction was also found in patients in whom thetherapeutic effect was small.

Key words:
antidepressants, sexual dysfunction, severity of illness.