[Sexual dysfunctions in a group of psychiatric in-patients]

41 mentally ill patients with sexual dysfunctions were examined by means of a semistructured interview. In this interview we tried to assess quality, intensity and duration of the sexual dysfunctions. In addition to this we developed a self-rating-scale in order to assess the patients' possibilities to talk about their sexual problems with a therapist. These attitudes were related to the attitudes of the staff towards the same issue. We found out that the dysfunctions had lasted for 11.0 years on average and that 58.8 % of the patients hadn't made any attempts for specific therapeutic steps so far. Patients with sexual dysfunctions such as erectile impotence were more interested in having additional talks about their sexual problems than patients with sexual disturbances such as libido loss. They were also more inclined to see psychiatric medication as a cause for their sexual problems. In addition to this, the complete group of the examined patients considered as to be less important that the therapist was of the same sex than the staff, particularly if the interviewer was not of the same sex. Our results confirm the thesis, that it is worth paying more attention to sexual dysfunctions of mentally ill patients, necessary therapeutic steps should be taken if possible. A positive effect of this probably seems to be a better compliance.