Sexual dysfunction and phobic anxiety in breast cancer survivors

• Published in: Psycho-oncology (Chichester, England) Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 195 - 197
• Main Authors: Abril‐Requena, Ana, García‐Torres, Francisco, Alós, Francisco J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Anxiety; Breast cancer; breast cancer survivors; Chemotherapy; Fear & phobias; FSFI; Health psychology; ISRA‐B; noncancer controls; Phobic anxiety; Sexual disorders; sexual dysfunction; Sexuality; Survivor; Womens health; noncancer controls; FSFI; sexual dysfunction; breast cancer survivors; phobic anxiety; ISRA-B
• ISSN: 1057-9249; 1099-1611
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.4894

Sexual dysfunctions are prevalent in breast cancer survivors (77%). In cancer patients, anxiety is related to worse sexual functioning, especially in women undergoing chemotherapy. The relationship between phobic anxiety and sexual dysfunction has been studied in general population with controversial results, but there are no previous data in breast cancer survivors about the possible relations between specific anxiety traits and sexuality. A more detailed evaluation of anxiety in this population may help to prevent the appearance of sexual impairments in survivors and to implement adjusted interventions. The objectives of this research were to evaluate different dimensions of anxiety, in the context of sexual dysfunction in a group of breast cancer survivors compared to a control group, and an attempt to find correlations between them.