Depressive symptoms and marital adjustment among primary care patients with erectile dysfunction in Umuahia, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED), marital adjustment and depression.

METHODS

The survey was conducted among primary care patients at Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. Subjects were 678 married, male primary care patients; aged 20-70 years (mean age = 45 years). ED was assessed by International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5) score, the presence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was assessed with the 5-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and marital adjustment was assessed with the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS).

RESULTS

The prevalence of probable depression by CES-D and ED by IIEF-5 score was 20.9% and 26.0%, respectively. Marital distress was rampant (62.0%) among subjects with ED ( < 0.05, χ = 196.58). Erectile dysfunction was associated with marital adjustment ( < 0.05). Partial correlation revealed that depression affects both ED and marital adjustment, and is closely related to both variables.

CONCLUSION

Partner involvement and screening for depression should be emphasised in the care of patients with ED.