Sexuality in Male Psychiatric Inpatients. A Descriptive Comparison of Psychiatric Patients, Patients with Epilepsy and Healthy Volunteers

Introduction: The majority of psychiatric patients suffer from sexual dysfunction. Although sexual impairment is a major cause for non-compliance in psychiatric patients, it remains under-diagnosed by the attending physician. Therefore, the aim of the following study was to examine sexual behaviour and sexual dysfunction in a large sample of psychiatric patients. Methods: Male psychiatric inpatients received a questionnaire for sexuality ("Sexualitatsfrage-bogen fur Manner", SFM) examining various aspects of sexual behaviour (e.g., value of sexuality, sexual dysfunction). Questionnaires from 351 patients were analysed. Additionally, 55 male healthy controls and 52 male patients with epilepsy were recruited. Results: Psychiatric patients demonstrated more severe sexual dysfunction in the acute phase of their illness as well as in the premorbid time period compared with healthy controls. Patients with epilepsy showed only mild current sexual dysfunction (in the acute phase of the illness), with the exception of persisting erectile dysfunction. When comparing the two groups of patients, the psychiatric patients reported more current sexual impairments. Discussion: Sexual dysfunction is not limited to the acute phase of psychiatric illnesses. Hence, treatment and follow-up must be geared towards such aspects of the quality of life while focussing on coping strategies.