Estimating the risk of irreversible post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) due to serotonergic antidepressants

Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of Serotonergic antidepressants (SA) treatment, and persists in some patients despite drug discontinuation, a condition termed post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD). The risk for PSSD is unknown but is thought to be rare and difficult to assess. This study aims to estimate the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) and PSSD in males treated with SAs.

A 19-year retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using a computerized database of the largest HMO in Israel. ED was defined by phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors prescriptions. 12,302 males aged 21-49 met the following criteria: non-smokers, no medical or psychiatric comorbidities or medications associated with ED, no alcohol or substance use. Logistic regression was used for estimation of ED risk in SA-treated subjects compared to non-SA-treated controls, assessed with and without the effects of age, body mass index (BMI), socioeconomic status (SES), depression and anxiety, yielding crude and adjusted odds ratios (cOR and aOR, respectively).

SAs were associated with an increased risk for ED (cOR = 3.6, p < 0.000001, 95% CI  2.8-4.8), which remained significant after adjusting for age, SES, BMI, depression and anxiety (aOR = 3.2, p < 0.000001, 95% CI  2.3-4.4). The risk for PSSD was 1 in 216 patients (0.46%) treated with SAs. The prevalence of PSSD was 4.3 per 100,000.

This work offers a first assessment of the small but significant risk of irreversible ED associated with the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants which should enhance the process of receiving adequate informed consent for therapy.