Secondary sexual dysfunction with antidepressant treatment: Study on 50 patients

Abstract

Introduction

The side effects of the various antidepressant drugs on the sexual field (with very few exceptions) are well known, and they affect the quality of life in important manners. The incidence rate, communicated spontaneously by the patient, has been estimated around 10–15%, and can reach amounts of 50–60% with SSRIs when studied specifically. It has been suggested that these effects compromise treatment adherence.

Objectives

To estimate the incidence and intensity of the side effects on the sexual field with different antidepressants, as well as its relationship with treatment adherence.

Methodology

Transversal study on 50 patients assisted in medical consultation. Collection of data in office (October 2014–October 2015).

Administration of survey PRSexDQ-SALSEX. In order to research the relationship with treatment adherence, one question surveyed the patient whether he/she had thought about finishing treatment for this reason.

Results

Twenty-nine patients (58% of the sample) presented some degree of sexual dysfunction. Five individuals (17.2%) communicated it spontaneously. Nine individuals (31%) responded that they did not accept positively the changes in their sexual field, and they had thought about withdrawing treatment for this reason. They were given the test of self-compliance statement (Haynes-Sackett), with a result of four non-compliant (44.4%). The most frequently involved drugs were fluoxetine (n = 5, 10% of the sample total) and paroxetine (n = 4, 8%).

Conclusions

The high impact of sexual side effects with a low rate of spontaneous communication coincides with previous existent studies.

Limitation when estimating adhesion due to methodological difficulties in the design of the study. However, high impression by using the selected method of determination.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.