Introduction Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative neurological disease that usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 50 years. Sexuality issues are important factors that affect the quality of life of patients. Aim To determine and evaluate the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in Greek women with MS and correlate it with organic and psychological factors. Methods 248 consecutive women with MS, aged over 18 who admitted to our outpatient clinics from February 2016 to March 2017 were included in the study. Demographics (age, marital status, menopause status, number of children) and disease-related data such as the duration of the disease, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and medication for MS obtained. Main Outcome Measure All participants completed the Greek validated versions of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) questionnaires. Statistics used to estimate the prevalence of FSD and its correlation with organic (age, EDSS, duration of the disease, menopause status) and psychological factors (depression, anxiety, stress). Results FSD was diagnosed in 64.5% of our sample. Age was associated with most subscales of the FSFI. There was no significant correlation in FSFI subscales with the disease duration. Correlation of EDSS and FSFI scores was found to be statistically significant with a negative correlation in all subscales apart from the Satisfaction subscale. Regarding the association between DASS domains and FSFI subscales, there were no significant correlations. Conclusion FSD is common among Greek women; it is influenced by age, severity of disease, and it is independent of the existence of depression, anxiety, and stress. Konstantinidis C, Tzitzika M, Bantis A, et al. Female sexual dysfunction among Greek women with multiple sclerosis: Correlations with organic and psychological factors. Sex Med 2019;7:19–25.

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Study design Cross-sectional study.Objectives To provide data on the rates of sexual dysfunction (SD) among the Greek spinal cord injury (SCI) women and to investigate any association with demographic and clinical variables. Setting Greek territory. Methods Our sample was enrolled from rehabilitation institutes throughout Greece and included 30 women with SCI living in the community for at least 1 year after the primary inpatient rehabilitation program. They were assessed for SD using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Pearson's test was performed to examine the correlation of SD with clinicaldemographic parameters as defined by specific questionnaires: Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART).Results SD was revealed in 63.3% of the study participants. The mean FSFI score was 14.4. Pearson's analysis showed that age was negatively correlated with FSFI scores (p = 0.006), while pain had a negative impact only on desire scores (p = 0.04). FSFI scores were negatively correlated with PHQ-9 (p = 0.04), while there was a positive correlation with SWLS (p = 0.003), SCIM (p = 0.013), and specific domains of WHOQOL-BREF (psychological, relations, environment), and CHART (mobility, social integration). Conclusions The rate of SD (63.3%) generally agrees with the findings of high rates in most of the literature, although it is rather lower, in comparison to other populations. Old age and depressive symptoms were the major identified determinants of SD.

Background: Relational satisfaction of spousal/partner informal caregivers of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is important for continued care and support. Previous studies have examined relational satisfaction in terms of well-being and quality of life of informal caregivers. Based on the Rusbult investment model, we directly studied the relational satisfaction of spousal/partner informal caregivers of individuals with MS. In doing so, we investigated possible effects that commitment to relationship, caregiving burden, and prorelational behavioral tendencies might have on relational satisfaction. Methods: Nine hundred nine adult spousal/partner informal caregivers of people with MS completed measures of relational satisfaction (Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale), commitment to relationship (15-item commitment measure), caregiving burden (Zarit Burden Interview), and prorelational behavioral tendencies (adapted Prosocial Tendencies Measure). Participants also provided demographic information (age, sex, duration and type of relationship [spouse, partner]). Results: Structural equation modeling highlighted commitment to the relationship as the strongest predictor of relational satisfaction. Caregiving burden was found to affect relational satisfaction directly and through commitment to relationship. Prorelational behavioral tendencies were found to affect less relational satisfaction. Conclusions: Commitment to relationship, namely, intent to persist, had the highest positive effect on satisfaction. Caregiving burden was found to have a two-way negative relationship to commitment to relationship. These findings suggest that specialists should enhance the intent-to-persist aspect of commitment because it seems to have an alleviating effect regarding caregiving burden (which itself negatively affects relational satisfaction).

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