Sexual dysfunction in patients taking conventional antipsychotic medication

Antipsychotic drugs are associated with sexual dysfunction but the mechanisms are poorly understood. To ascertain the frequency of sexual dysfunction in patients taking conventional antipsychotics and to determine the possible underlying mechanisms. Sexual dysfunction was assessed in 101 patients re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of psychiatry 2002-07, Vol.181 (1), p.49-55
Main Authors: Smith, Shubulade, O'Keane, Veronica, Murray, Robin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Distribution
Antipsychotic Agents - adverse effects
Antipsychotics
Case-Control Studies
Female
Humans
Hyperprolactinemia
Hyperprolactinemia - chemically induced
Illnesses
Male
Males
Men
Middle Aged
Patients
Psychiatry
Psychotropic drugs
Questionnaires
Schizophrenia
Sex Distribution
Sexual disorders
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - chemically induced
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - chemically induced
Side effects
Surveys and Questionnaires
Variance analysis
Women
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Summary:Antipsychotic drugs are associated with sexual dysfunction but the mechanisms are poorly understood. To ascertain the frequency of sexual dysfunction in patients taking conventional antipsychotics and to determine the possible underlying mechanisms. Sexual dysfunction was assessed in 101 patients receiving conventional antipsychotic medication, 57 normal controls and 55 controls attending a sexual dysfunction clinic. Sexual dysfunction occurred in 45% of patients taking antipsychotic medication, 17% of normal controls and 61% of controls attending a sexual dysfunction clinic. Sexual dysfunction was associated with autonomic side-effects in normoprolactinaemic males, but the presence of hyperprolactinaemia overrode other causes of sexual dysfunction. For women, hyperprolactinaemia was the main cause of sexual dysfunction. Conventional anti-psychotic medications cause significant levels of sexual dysfunction. Clinicians should routinely enquire about sexual symptoms prior to the prescription of antipsychotics and on follow-up.
ISSN:0007-1250
1472-1465
DOI:10.1192/bjp.181.1.49