study of sexual dysfunction in a sample of medicated and non medicated egyptian female patients with schizophrenia

ABSTRACT

Background: the relationship between sexuality and schizophrenia is complex. It may be related to both the psychopathology and the pharmacotherapy, as the sexual functions may be affected by symptoms itself, living with a severe chronic mental health illness, and the adverse effects of antipsychotics or other medications. Systematic studies have revealed that sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in both untreated and treated schizophrenia patients, affecting 30–80% of women and 45–80% of men. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction may be higher in patients with schizophrenia than in patients treated for other mental disorders