A Cross-sectional Study of Antipsychotic Drugs Induced Sexual Dysfunction among Married Males with Remitted Schizophrenia Attending Tertiary Health Care Centre from Central India

摘要

Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating disease having a major impact on the sufferers’ lives.Antipsychotic drugs are the mainstay of the treatment of schizophrenia.But, antipsychotics can lead to a variety of sexual dysfunctions among the males with schizophrenia, which may affect their treatment compliance.Aim: To assess the prevalence and the types of sexual dysfunctions among married males with remitted schizophrenia who were on a single oral antipsychotic drug from either class (i.e., typical or atypical type).Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary health-care centre from Central India, with a sample size of 100 married males with schizophrenia who were in the remission phase on a single oral antipsychotic drug.Data were collected by using a convenient sampling method.Socio-demographic profile and clinical variables were recorded in a specific case report form prepared for the study using the Arizona Sexual Experiences (ASEX) scale and the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser (UKU) side-effect rating scale to assess the prevalence and the types of oral antipsychotic drugs induced sexual dysfunctions among study participants.Results: The prevalence of antipsychotic drug induced sexual dysfunction was 54%.The most common type of sexual sideeffect of oral antipsychotic treatment was Decreased Sexual Desire/Drive (DSD) as assessed by both ASEX (94.4%) and UKU (63.0%) scales.Sexual dysfunctions like DSD and Ejaculatory Dysfunction (EJD) were associated with the treatment of schizophrenia with typical antipsychotic drugs.Conclusion: The present study shows that the treatment with typical antipsychotics was significantly associated with sexual side-effects.So, routine inquiry during the follow-ups should be done regarding the evaluation of sexual side-effects of antipsychotic agents in order to improve treatment compliance and disease prognosis.