Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility
Published on: May 30, 2025
Sexual dysfunction in major depression
Katherine Williams1, Margaret F Reynolds
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, CA 94305-5723, USA. elliew@stanford.edu
Abstract:
Little is known about the prevalence, typology, and natural course of non-drug-induced sexual dysfunction in patients with depression. Loss of libido has been reported in various studies to affect from 25% to 75% of patients with unipolar depression, and its prevalence appears to be correlated with the severity of depression. Disorders of arousal also appear to be relatively common in both men and women with major depression, of whom approximately 25% may experience problems with erection or lubrication. The scant available data regarding orgasmic difficulties in patients with depression who have not yet taken antidepressant medication suggest that they are more common than in the general population. The potential causes of sexual dysfunction in patients with depression are complex and little investigated, and future research must distinguish and explore the various biological, psychological, and psychosocial factors that are likely to be involved.
Related Concept Videos
Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia
Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra. Symptoms...
G-protein Coupled Receptors
Depression: Overview
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
