Sexual dysfunction in psychiatric inpatients the role of antipsychotic medication.

INTRODUCTION

Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of antipsychotic medication. Although increased prolactin levels caused by antipsychotic agents are believed to play a major role with regard to sexual side effects, the underlying mechanism of antipsychotic agent-induced sexual dysfunction remains poorly understood.

METHODS

In a multicentric study 587 psychiatric inpatients were assessed by means of a self-rating sexual questionnaire. Focussing on antipsychotic treatment three subgroups were drawn from the original sample. One group was treated with prolactin-increasing antipsychotics (n=119), the other with prolactin-neutral medication (n=109) and the third patient group was comprised of non-medicated clinical controls (n=105).

RESULTS

The majority of all patients (50-75%) reported at least minor sexual dysfunction. On comparison of the subgroups, only female patients treated with prolactin-increasing medication reported more severe sexual dysfunction. However, multiple regression analysis did not confirm an association between the type of treatment and sexual impairment.

DISCUSSION

Sexual dysfunction frequently occurs in psychiatric inpatients treated with antipsychotics. Our findings only partly support the assumptions concerning a major role of prolactin-increasing neuroleptics for medication-induced sexual impairment.