The correlation between emotional distress and aging males’ symptoms at a psychiatric outpatient clinic: sexual dysfunction as a distinguishing characteristic between andropause and anxiety/depression in aging men

Abstract

BackgroundAndropause and psychiatric disorders are associated with various symptoms in aging males and are part of the differential diagnosis of depression and anxiety. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between symptoms of aging, anxiety, and depression, and to determine if sexual dysfunction could be a differentiating characteristic in the psychiatric outpatient clinic.MethodsOne hundred seventy-six male psychiatric outpatients participated in the study and completed self-reported measures assessing symptoms of aging, depression, and anxiety. Symptoms of aging were assessed by the Aging Males’ Symptoms scale. Anxiety and depression were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Erectile dysfunction was considered if a response to item 15 on the Aging Males’ Symptoms scale (impaired sexual potency) was rated with 4 or 5 points. Affective disturbance was assessed by the total scores of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.ResultsAge was correlated with less anxiety and more sexual symptoms. Anxiety and depression were associated with more severe symptoms of aging, and depression was associated with more sexual symptoms than was anxiety. Impaired sexual potency was the only sexual symptom not significantly associated with depression and anxiety. Depression was associated with an interspousal age gap of ≥6 years. The point prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 28.4%, and age and affective disturbance were associated with the risk of erectile dysfunction.ConclusionImpaired sexual potency should raise the suspicion of androgen deficiency rather than depression and anxiety among middle-aged or older male psychiatric outpatients.

Age-Specific Clinical Features of Erectile Dysfunction

“…Study has shown that aging was correlated with less anxiety and more sexual symptoms [13], we also found this interesting phenomena in this study that less depression in elderly ED group, only 2 in 120, but it was 18 in 104 for young ED group. Not surprisingly, SDS scores were 29.13 ± 5.63 in elderly ED group and 39.59 ± 13.31 in young ED group (P < 0.05).…”

Validity and clinical utilization of the Chinese version of the Gotland Male Depression Scale at a men&rsquo;s health polyclinic

“…Insomnia has been suggested as a fair predictor of aging symptoms across all age-groups of men 17. Andropause and anxiety/depression can also be distinguished in aging men by sexual dysfunction 18. However, there is still a lack of research on the expression of depression in aging men.…”

Sexual Function Across Aging

“…Multiple other changes in roles such as assuming more responsibilities as part of the Bsandwich generation,^caring for children and caring for ill or aging parents, can affect relationships and sexual functioning [24][25][26].…”