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Pharmacopsychiatry 2018; 51(06): 251-256
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-100627
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sexual Dysfunction in Unmedicated Patients with Schizophrenia and in Healthy Controls

Theresa Dembler-Stamm
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
,
Jana Fiebig
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
2   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School Brandenburg Theodor Fontane, Neuruppin, Germany
,
Andreas Heinz
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
,
Jürgen Gallinat
3   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 13 June 2017
revised 27 November 2017

accepted 28 December 2017

Publication Date:
29 January 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction Sexual dysfunction figures prominently in patients with schizophrenia; however, medication effects may play a role. The objective of this case control study was to assess differences in the presence of sexual dysfunction in unmedicated patients with schizophrenia versus healthy controls.

Methods Sexual dysfunction was assessed using the Derogatis Inventory for Sexual Function self-rating in a cross-sectional design controlling for age and gender effects. A brief sexual anamnesis was applied to describe the psychosocial background of the mostly male sample further.

Results Results show a significant difference with patients reporting more problems in most domains and with a significant correlation between severity of psychosis (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total scores) and the impairment of orgasm experience. The study revealed reduced sexual activities and less pleasure during sexual activities of patients.

Discussion This study implies that schizophrenia has an impact on the presence of sexual dysfunction and that sexual dysfunction is partly independent of antipsychotic treatment. Since the sample consisted mostly of first-episode males, conclusions might only be valid for this subgroup.

Key words

libido - sexual dysfunction - schizophrenia - unmedicated - DISF-SR
 

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