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Published on: November 21, 2013
Sexuality and psychosis.
Borut Skodlar1, Marija Zunter Nagy
1University Psychiatric Hospital, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. borut.skodlar@psih-klinika.si
Sexuality in patients with psychosis is often overlooked. This study explores their subjective sexual experiences, revealing common issues like identity problems and guilt, linked to self-disorders or intimacy regulation difficulties.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Sexuality and sexual disorders in patients with psychosis are under-researched.
- Clinical practice often neglects these issues, despite their prevalence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the subjective experience of sexuality in patients with psychosis.
- To analyze these experiences through psychodynamic and phenomenological frameworks.
- To explore therapists' avoidance of addressing sexual issues in this population.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative reflection on clinical work by psychotherapists.
- Application of psychodynamic and phenomenological psychiatric concepts.
- Analysis of patient narratives and clinical observations.
Main Results:
- Patients exhibit a range of sexual issues including identity instability, guilt, lack of self-control, erotic delusions, and transference.
- Willingness to discuss sexuality varies, with non-specific frequencies and types of sexual disorders observed.
- Manifestations are linked to core self-disorders or difficulties in regulating closeness/distance.
Conclusions:
- Sexual difficulties in psychosis stem from fundamental self-disorders or relational regulation issues.
- Therapists' avoidance of sexual topics requires further investigation and intervention.
- Addressing sexuality is crucial for comprehensive psychotherapy in patients with psychosis.
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