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Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction: review, classification, and suggestions for treatment
1Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., USA.
Harvard Review of Psychiatry
|June 17, 1999
Summary
Antidepressant medications can cause sexual dysfunction, impacting quality of life. This review details antidepressant-induced sexual disorders, their assessment, and treatment options for better patient compliance.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Sexual Medicine
Background:
- Sexual function is crucial for quality of life.
- Antidepressant treatment frequently impacts sexual function, leading to disorders of desire, arousal, orgasm, and sexual pain.
- Specific antidepressant classes vary in their reported rates of sexual dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and classify antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunctions.
- To discuss the assessment and differential diagnosis of these sexual disorders.
- To describe current treatment strategies for managing antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction.
- Classification of sexual disorders based on desire, arousal, and orgasm.
- Discussion of diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions.
Main Results:
- Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and venlafaxine are associated with higher rates of sexual dysfunction compared to bupropion, nefazodone, and mirtazapine.
- Sexual dysfunction can affect over 50% of patients on SSRIs.
- Patient disclosure of sexual issues is often low without proactive clinical assessment.
Conclusions:
- Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction is a common and significant issue.
- Effective management requires accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment interventions.
- Addressing sexual dysfunction can improve patient adherence to antidepressant therapy.