Validation of sexual functioning questionnaire in Indian patients

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Sexual Health
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Sexual dysfunction is a common concern, particularly in individuals with depressive disorders.
• Establishing population-specific norms is crucial for accurate assessment.
• The Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ) is a tool used to evaluate sexual health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine normative data for the Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ) in the Indian population.
• To establish a reliable cutoff score for identifying sexual dysfunction using the SFQ.

Main Methods:

• 100 male subjects diagnosed with depressive disorder and in clinical remission for at least 4 weeks were assessed.
• The Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ) and Arizona Sexual Experience Questionnaire (ASEX) were administered.
• Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were utilized to determine the optimal cutoff score.

Main Results:

• A cutoff score of 14 on the SFQ was identified using ROC curve analysis.
• This cutoff achieved a sensitivity of 91.7% and a specificity of 86.4% for detecting sexual dysfunction.
• The positive predictive value (PPV) of the SFQ at this cutoff was 87%.

Conclusions:

• A cutoff score of 14 on the SFQ is proposed for defining sexual dysfunction in the studied Indian male population.
• This cutoff score offers a validated measure for screening and diagnosis.
• The findings contribute to the accurate assessment of sexual health in men with a history of depression.