[The status of sexuality in routine psychiatric practice--results of a personal survey]

Based upon the observation that aspects of sexuality are rarely considered in psychiatric practice, a questionnaire study was performed to differentially assess the attitudes and experiences of psychiatric staff with this topic. 145 members of different professional groups and several psychiatric in-patient institutions answered the questions. The results of the study indicate for example that sexuality generally is more important in psychiatric institutions than one could have expected according to the psychiatric literature. Stereotypical attitudes concerning the sexual life of psychiatric patients were rare and more frequently found to be unspecific for psychiatry, for example those related to differential meanings of female and male sexuality. A further result of the study showed that sexual knowledge and confidence in handling conversations about sexuality seemed to be less important for the reduction of problems in the staff's reactions to sexually active patients than the possibility to discuss the own uncertainties and their recognition. Generally, the results could serve as a basis for psychiatric staff to facilitate the consideration of sexual matters within their institutions.