Sexuality and schizophrenia: a review

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Sexual functioning has received little attention as an important aspect of patient care for those suffering from severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia. Yet, it has been implicated as one of the major factors contributing to noncompliance with antipsychotic medications and is documented by people with schizophrenia to be one of the areas of treatment with the most unmet needs.

A stronger focus on sexuality and preventing sexual dysfunction in schizophrenia would likely be a major benefit for improving treatment. This review will describe possible mechanisms for sexual dysfunction, describe sexual disturbances that have been documented in the literature of people who have schizophrenia, and summarize and discuss assessment measures available.

Moreover, a focus on second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) and their association with sexual functioning is described. Each SGA (clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole) will be described for its prolactin effects, documented sexual disturbances associated with use, and product labeling regarding sexual function. Treatment options and psychosocial issues pertaining to sexuality also are presented.

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Kelly DL, Conley RR
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland, Box 21247, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA.

Schizophrenia Bulletin [2004, 30(4):767-79]
(PMID:15954189)
Source

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Sexual dysfunction in schizophrenia

Sexual dysfunction is a common problem in people with schizophrenia affecting both treated and untreated patients alike. It affects between 30-80% of women and 45-80% of men. There are a number of possible reasons for this, one of them being the side effects of antipsychotic drugs. Sexual dysfunction is considered to be one of the worst side effects of medication and is a major cause of poor quality of life, a negative attitude to therapy and treatment non-compliance. A review of studies, published since 2002, into the side effects of antipsychotic drugs found that risperidone produced the worst side effects, followed in descending order by haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine and aripiprazole.

Baggeley, Martin - Sexual dysfunction in schizophrenia: focus on recent evidence Human Psychopharmacology March 2008, 23(3), 201-209

Source: Mental Health Update

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