Sexual Functioning in Chronically Depressed Patients Treated With SSRI Antidepressants: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study assessed changes in depression and sexual functioning in chronically depressed men and women during treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). METHOD: Twenty-five subjects (14 women, 11 men) with DSM-III-R dysthymia, chronic major depression, or...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of psychiatry 1997-12, Vol.154 (12), p.1757-1759
Main Authors: Piazza, Lisa A., Markowitz, John C., Kocsis, James H., Leon, Andrew C., Portera, Laura, Miller, Nina L., Adler, Douglas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antidepressant drugs
Antidepressants
Biological and medical sciences
Depression
Depressive Disorder - drug therapy
Depressive Disorder - psychology
Drug therapy
Factors
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Mental depression
Neuropharmacology
Orgasm - drug effects
Patients
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease)
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopharmacology
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - adverse effects
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use
Sex Factors
Sexual Behavior - drug effects
Sexual disorders
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - chemically induced
Sexual relationships
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Summary:OBJECTIVE: This prospective study assessed changes in depression and sexual functioning in chronically depressed men and women during treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). METHOD: Twenty-five subjects (14 women, 11 men) with DSM-III-R dysthymia, chronic major depression, or double depression were administered the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale before and after 6 weeks of treatment with sertraline or paroxetine. RESULTS: As measured by scores on the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, desire, psychological arousal, and overall sexual functioning significantly improved in women; orgasm delay, orgasm satisfaction, and overall sexual functioning significantly worsened in men. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that after SSRI treatment, difficulties with desire and psychological arousal in depressed women tend to remit, whereas in men orgasmic dysfunction appears to be a side effect of medication. (Am J Psychiatry 1997; 154:1757-1759)
ISSN:0002-953X
1535-7228
DOI:10.1176/ajp.154.12.1757