Sexual dysfunction and quality of life in female patients with major depression disorder

Abstract

Background Major depression can negatively affect different domains in patients’ psychosexual life. Many females with depression have sexual dysfunction which goes under diagnosed leading to reduced sexual and overall health quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk of sexual dysfunction, sexual quality of life, and general health quality of life in a sample of Egyptian females diagnosed with major depression compared to a control group. Results The sample consisted of 100 participants recruited by convenience sampling, divided into a case group (50 female patients diagnosed with major depression enrolled from our institute’s outpatient clinic) and a control group (50 apparently healthy matched females enrolled from employees working in the university hospitals). Patients answered The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, the Female Sexual Function Index, the Sexual Quality Of Life-Female, and the WHO Quality of Life. Descriptive data analysis showed that all patients with major depression had a higher risk of sexual dysfunction compared to 36% in the control group, with higher rates of marital conflicts, unemployment, positive psychiatric family history and lower monthly income than those in controls. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the sexual quality of life in the case group and the psychosexual feelings (emotional intimacy), self-worthlessness and the total score domains of the FSFI, and a positive correlation with psychosexual feelings, sexual relationship satisfaction, and self-worthlessness domains in the control group. Female sexual functioning scores were positively correlated with most of the WHO quality of life domains in the case group. Conclusions Female patients with major depression are distinctly prone to sexual dysfunction and marital problems that can lead to both defective sexual and overall health quality of life. This mandates thorough screening of the psychosocial risks of sexual dysfunction in patients with depression for early management and more satisfactory quality of life.

Sexual dysfunction, marital relationship, and subjective quality of life among women with schizophrenia: Analytical case-control study

“…This finding is consistent with other studies that SD is more frequent in patients with psychiatric illnesses. [ 34 35 36 37 ] In a study conducted with patients with depression, 68% of participants expressed dissatisfaction with their sexual life, 86% reported sexual intercourse does not arouse them, 68% reported impaired or retrograde ejaculation, 54% expressed a problem with lubrication, and 32% had pain during sexual intercourse. [ 30 ] In another prospective hospital-based study, female participants reported that not attaining enough lubrication (53%), painful intercourse (49%), poor sexual satisfaction, and failure to arouse during sexual intercourse are common SDs.…”

“…The findings on quality of life are consistent with the study conducted on patients with depression who reported a lower quality of life compared with healthy controls. [ 36 ] Furthermore, the quality of life was reported to be low in many previously published studies in patients with schizophrenia with SDs. [ 3 18 36 42 ] The findings on quality of life are consistent with previous Indian studies conducted on patients with depression and major mental illness with SD who reported poor quality of life.…”

“…[ 36 ] Furthermore, the quality of life was reported to be low in many previously published studies in patients with schizophrenia with SDs. [ 3 18 36 42 ] The findings on quality of life are consistent with previous Indian studies conducted on patients with depression and major mental illness with SD who reported poor quality of life. [ 42 43 44 ] Surprisingly, another study from India reported better quality of life in cases than controls, where controls scored significantly lower on domains of physical health, psychological status, and environmental domains of QoL.…”

A multicenter study of the relationship between the compulsory time spent at home and sexual functioning

“…18,19 In literature review, the multifactorial nature of sexual dysfunction and bidirectional relationship between depression and sexual dysfunction were emphasized. 20 In recent literature, Eissa et al 21 expressed that depressed female patients are prone to sexual dysfunction and marital problems can be a cause of defective sexual life. Sexual health can be influenced by mental health in a wide range of age groups.…”

Sexual dysfunction in migraine-affected women: A prospective cross-sectional controlled study

“…The selection criteria include Saudi married women in a stable heterosexual relationship (cohabitating with their husbands), aged between 18–45 years old, who are looking healthy ( Control Group ), and those who previously diagnosed with migraine, with or without aura, or have had at least one episode of migraine, and got engaged in sexual activity during the last 4 weeks ( Case Group ). Our excluding criteria include; all males, non-Saudi females, unmarried women (not yet engaged in sexual activity) or married but having no sex within the last 4 weeks, aged less than 18 or more than 45 years old, pregnant, breastfeeding, or with pelvic floor disorders or neurological diseases other than migraine, on medications as antidepressants [18] , [19] , and those whom never been diagnosed with migraine or had any episode of primary headache.…”