The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology

Table of Contents - 2005 - Volume 8, Issue 02  


Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia: international variation and underestimation

Martin Dossenbach a1c1, Andrew Hodge a2, Martin Anders a3, Béla Molnár a4, Dalia Peciukaitiene a5, Irena Krupka-Matuszczyk a6, Mihai Tatu a7, Victor Bondar a8, Jan Pecenak a9, Tatjana Gorjanc a10 and Margaret McBride a2
a1 Eli Lilly and Company, GmbH, Vienna, Austria
a2 Eli Lilly Australia Pty Ltd, Macquarie Park, Australia
a3 Department of Psychiatry, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
a4 Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic, Szabolcs Street 9, Szeghalom, Hungary
a5 Seskines Mental Health Center, Seskines 24, Vilnius, LT – 2000, Lithuania
a6 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
a7 County Hospital Tulcea, Tulcea – Romania
a8 National Mental Health Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
a9 Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
a10 ZD Trbovje, Rudarska 9, SI-1420 Trbovlje, Slovenia

Article author query
dossenbach m   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
hodge a   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
anders m   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
molnar b   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
peciukaitiene d   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
krupka-matuszczyk i   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
tatu m   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
bondar v   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
pecenak j   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
gorjanc t   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
mcbride m   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in schizophrenia patients was investigated as part of this large (n=7655), prospective, international (27 countries) study. Based on patient reports, sexual dysfunction affected approx. 50% of patients and the prevalence of complaints varied significantly between regions (p<0.0001). The prevalence of sexual dysfunction, as perceived by psychiatrists, also varied significantly across regions (p<0.0001). Psychiatrists significantly underestimated the presence of impotence/sexual dysfunction (p<0.0001) and loss of libido (p<0.0001), compared to reports from patients. The frequency of sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in patients who had been using prolactin-elevating antipsychotics prior to study entry, compared to those who had been treated with prolactin-sparing antipsychotics (patient reports, p=0.002; psychiatrist perception, p=0.0004). This study has shown that the prevalence of sexual dysfunction is high in both male and female patients with schizophrenia and frequently underestimated by psychiatrists. Regional variation is evident in both psychiatrist perceptions and patient reports of sexual dysfunction. Given the importance of sexual function to quality of life and treatment compliance, proactive assessment of sexual function is required to optimize schizophrenia management.

(Received February 10 2004)
(Reviewed April 28 2004)
(Revised August 12 2004)
(Accepted August 17 2004)


Key Words: Antipsychotic treatment; prolactin; schizophrenia; sexual dysfunction.

Correspondence:
c1 Eli Lilly and Company, GmbH, Koelblgasse 8-10, Postfach 114, A-1030, Vienna, Austria. Tel.: (431) 711 78 624 Fax: (431) 711 78 417 E-mail: d.m@lilly.com

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