EPA-0915 – Sexuality of Patients with Affective Disorders: A Survey of Polish Patients

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of the hereby-presented multi research center studies is the description of how frequent sexual impairments touch the patients with affective disorders in diagnosis, as well as the assessment of illness’ and pharmacotherapy's influence on their occurrence. 207 patients aged 18-65 have been examined.

Design and Method:

The research was based on a number of standardized questionnaires: The BSP Questionnaire (Pole's Sexuality Research), Female Sexual Functioning, Male Sexual Functioning, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Young Mania Rating Scale. The above-mentioned questionnaires were then supplemented with data on patients’ social and economic status (education, professional activity) as well as a number of other health conditions that might influence the quality of sexual life (associated somatic diseases, drugs influencing the cycle of sexual responses). Additionally information was gathered on the course of illness itself, duration of episodes and types of pharmacological treatment.

Conclusions:

The presence of sexual dysfunction in patients should encourage therapists to answer the question to what extent are they caused by the disease or antidepressant drug administrated. The issue of sexual dysfunction should play a greater role in the course of therapy. All patients in the course of the study were taking antidepressants. A significant difference between the percentage of patients reporting directly to their doctors the presence of sexual dysfunction and the results carried out on the basis of questionnaires should encourage therapists to direct questions about the presence of the disorder in this sphere of life.