Sexual Belief Gender Difference, and Tolerability to Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Taiwanese Patients.

Sexual Belief Gender Difference, and Tolerability to Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Taiwanese Patients, Jung-Kwang Wen, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai Homes, R.O.C.; Sung-Wei Chen, Chi-Fa Hung, Yu-Hwa Kim, and Yu Lee Chang, Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

We investigated patient beliefs about and gender differences in antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. After referral from outpatient clinics, 84 depressed patients (33 men and 51 women) with SSRI/SNRI-induced sexual dysfunction were screened by HAM-D and ASEX periodically. We enrolled 29 subjects (17 men and 12 women) who met the inclusion criteria. A validated, semi-structured survey questionnaire about the acceptance of SSRI/SNRI-induced sexual dysfunction was adopted and studied with descriptive statistics and qualitative methodology. We found that 58% of men and 91% of women tolerated the dysfunction. Qualitative research revealed that 50% of the men believed sex hurts the body, and 46% of women believed sex is not important. Traditional Chinese sexual beliefs characterized with sexual conservatism may affect the acceptance of antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction, especially in women. This implies that the effect of cultural beliefs on the acceptance of symptoms and the adherence to their treatment differs between Western and non-Western clinical practice. More culture-sensitive and gender-appropriate approaches or interventions regarding sexual dysfunction and antidepressant medication should be considered.