© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Sexual dysfunction in patients taking conventional antipsychotic medication
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Correspondence: Shubulade Smith, Maudsley Hospital, 103 Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ, UK
Declaration of interest Funded by the South Thames Regional Health Authority.
Background Antipsychotic drugs are associated with sexual dysfunction but the mechanisms are poorly understood.
Aims To ascertain the frequency of sexual dysfunction in patients taking conventional antipsychotics and to determine the possible underlying mechanisms.
Method Sexual dysfunction was assessed in 101 patients receiving conventional antipsychotic medication, 57 normal controls and 55 controls attending a sexual dysfunction clinic.
Results Sexual dysfunction occurred in 45% of patients taking antipsychotic medication, 17% of normal controls and 61% of controls attending a sexual dysfunction clinic. Sexual dysfunction was associated with autonomic side-effects in normoprolactinaemic males, but the presence of hyperprolactinaemia overrode other causes of sexual dysfunction. For women, hyperprolactinaemia was the main cause of sexual dysfunction.
Conclusions Conventional anti-psychotic medications cause significant levels of sexual dysfunction. Clinicians should routinely enquire about sexual symptoms prior to the prescription of antipsychotics and on follow-up.
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