Sexual dysfunction and plasma prolactin levels in neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic outpatients

A random sample of 55 schizophrenic outpatients, 26 men and 29 women, treated with neuroleptics was selected from our long term follow-up clinic. The patients rated their current sexual functioning on specially designed scales. Fifty-four per cent of male and 30 per cent of female patients reported impaired sexual functioning during neuroleptic treatment. Ninety-one per cent of female patients reported changes in menstruation. Partial correlation coefficients were calculated between sexual dysfunction score and plasma prolactin level adjusting for age. Sexual dysfunction was found to be associated with high plasma prolactin levels in male patients but not in female patients. High prolactin tended also to be associated with menstrual disturbances. Antiparkinsonian medication was not found to be correlated with either sexual dysfunction or menstrual disorder score.