Sociodemographic and clinical correlates of sexual dysfunction among psychiatric outpatients receiving common psychotropic medications in a Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Northern Nigeria

• Published in: Nigerian journal of clinical practice Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 799 - 806
• Main Authors: Olisah, V, Sheikh, T, Abah, E, Mahmud-Ajeigbe, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.11.2016; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Ambulatory Care; Analysis; Bipolar Disorder - drug therapy; Bipolar Disorder - epidemiology; Care and treatment; Child; Complications and side effects; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Dosage and administration; Employment; Female; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Mental Disorders - drug therapy; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Nigeria - epidemiology; Patient compliance; Prevalence; Psychotropic drugs; Psychotropic Drugs - therapeutic use; Quality of Life; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia - drug therapy; Schizophrenia - epidemiology; Sexual disorders; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - epidemiology; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - epidemiology; Social aspects; Substance-Related Disorders - drug therapy; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; Nigeria; Psychiatric outpatients; sexual dysfunction; psychotropic medications
• ISSN: 1119-3077
• DOI: 10.4103/1119-3077.180063

Background: Sexual dysfunction is common in patients receiving psychotropic medications and may reduce their quality of life and medication adherence with resultant negative impact on treatment outcomes. Objectives: In this study, we described the various types of sexual dysfunction among psychiatric outpatients receiving psychotropic medications and the sociodemographic and clinical correlates associated with it. Settings and Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in a Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Northern Nigeria. Methodology: The participants were made up of a consecutive sample of 255 outpatients attending psychiatric clinic from January to March 2014. Data were collected on sociodemographic items, patient's clinical diagnosis, psychotropic medications received, and duration of treatment. Information about sexual functioning was obtained using the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire for the male participants and the Female Sexual Function Index for the female participants. Results: The mean age of the patients studied was 34.7 years (standard deviation [SD] =5.9), with a mean duration of treatment of 3.8 (SD = 6.5) years. Males constituted 47.8% and patients with schizophrenia constituted 43.1%; other diagnoses include bipolar affective disorder, recurrent depressive disorder, and substance use disorder. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 64.3%. Age, employment status, and psychotropic medication use were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction; however, only employment status and psychotropic medication use significantly predicted sexual dysfunction. Conclusions: We concluded that sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent among patients receiving psychotropic medication; as such inquiries about sexual function should be routinely carried out by clinicians as this may negatively impact on adherence and quality of life.