Effect of Adjunctive Aripiprazole on Sexual Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A Preliminary Open-Label Study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Endocrinology
• Sexual Medicine

Background:

• Antipsychotic medications can induce hyperprolactinemia, leading to sexual dysfunction.
• Aripiprazole is known to improve hyperprolactinemia, but its impact on associated sexual dysfunction requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of adjunctive aripiprazole in treating sexual dysfunction in schizophrenia patients with antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia.

Main Methods:

• A 24-week study involving 22 Japanese schizophrenia patients with hyperprolactinemia and sexual dysfunction.
• Aripiprazole was administered flexibly, with assessments of serum prolactin, sexual function (Nagoya Sexual Function Questionnaire), and clinical severity (CGI-S) at regular intervals.

Main Results:

• Adjunctive aripiprazole significantly reduced prolactin levels starting from week 4.
• Significant improvements in overall sexual dysfunction were observed from week 8 onwards.
• Specific improvements included reduced erectile dysfunction in males and decreased menstrual irregularity and galactorrhea in females by week 24.

Conclusions:

• Adjunctive aripiprazole appears to be a beneficial treatment for sexual dysfunction associated with hyperprolactinemia in schizophrenia patients.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings.