Many forms of mental disorders, especially psychotic disorders are characterized also by a worsening of sexual functioning. Sexual dysfunction has been shown to significantly correlate with a longer duration of untreated psychosis and with heavier psychotic symptomatology.

The aim of this study is to validate the Italian version of the Arizona Sexual Experience (ASEX), a very handy and reliable tool to assess sexual dysfunction, in a population of people suffering from psychotic spectrum disorders.

Seventy-three psychiatric patients were recruited and assessed for mental illness and sexual functioning. We administered the Italian version of ASEX, adequately translated by two expert bilinguals. After 15 days we administered once again the test for test-retest reliability.

Validation of ASEX revealed Cronbach’s coefficients >0.70 in both single items as in the total score. In addition, the test-retest reliability revealed Pearson’s coefficients >0.50 in the various domains. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed good fit indexes for the two factors model of ASEX (SRMR=0.54; CFI=0.974; RMSEA=0.135).

This study represents the first validation in the Italian psychiatric context of a very useful specific tool for the sexual assessment in people suffering from mental illness. Our analysis revealed good psychometric characteristics in terms of confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability.

No significant relationships.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia under antipsychotic therapy and to investigate the effect of various parameters on sexual dysfunction.

A total of 827 stabilized outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, were recruited in the study. Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) and the subscale on sexual function of the UKU Side Effects Rating Scale were applied at a single interview.

In total, 52.6% of the patients had sexual dysfunction, 54.2% reported a low sexual desire and 41.7% reported problems in having an orgasm. Erectile dysfunction and ejaculation problems were seen in 48.1% and 64.2% of the men, respectively; amenorrhea was seen in 24.9% of the women. ASEX score and severity of disease were found to be correlated (p = 0.02). Higher ASEX scores were observed in patients who smoked (p = 0.01). Men receiving atypical monotherapy had lower ASEX scores than those receiving a combination of atypical and conventional antipsychotics (p = 0.017). Patients on combination therapy had more ejaculation problems than the atypical group (p = 0.001). Low sexual desire was more prevalent among women using conventional drugs than those on atypical drugs (p = 0.004). In linear regression analyses, ASEX was affected significantly and independently by the severity of the disease only in men (p = 0.005).

Our results show that sexual dysfunction is widespread among patients with schizophrenia on antipsychotic medications.

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de disfunción sexual en pacientes con esquizofrenia tratados con antipsicóticos e investigar el efecto de varios parámetros sobre la disfunción sexual.

Se seleccionaron para el estudio 827 pacientes estabilizados que estaban siendo tratados de forma ambulatoria y que cumplieron los criterios de esquizofrenia del DSM-IV. Se aplicaron la Escala de Experiencias Sexuales de Arizona (ASEX) y la subescala de función sexual de la Escala de Puntuación de Efectos Secundarios UKU en una sola entrevista.

En total, el 52,6% de los pacientes tenía disfunción sexual, el 54,2% refirió poco deseo sexual y el 41,7%, dificultad para experimentar un orgasmo. Tenían disfunción eréctil y problemas de eyaculación el 48,1% y el 64,2% de los hombres, respectivamente; el 24,9% de las mujeres tenía amenorrea. Se encontró una correlación entre la puntuación ASEX y la gravedad de la enfermedad (p = 0,02). Los pacientes que fumaban tenían puntuaciones ASEX más altas (p = 0,01). Los hombres que recibían monoterapia atípica tuvieron unas puntuaciones ASEX más bajas que los que recibían una combinación de antipsicóticos atípicos y convencionales (p = 0,017). Los pacientes que recibían tratamiento combinado tenían más problemas de eyaculación que el grupo que recibía fármacos atípicos (p = 0,001). El deseo sexual bajo era más frecuente en mujeres que tomaban fármacos convencionales que en los que tomaban fármacos atípicos (p = 0,004). En los análisis de regresión lineal, ASEX varió significativamente y de forma independiente por la gravedad de la enfermedad sólo en hombres (p = 0,005).

Nuestros resultados demuestran que en pacientes con esquizofrenia que toman antipsicóticos es muy frecuente la disfunción sexual. 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. Reservados todos los derechos.