The impact of ankylosing spondylitis on female sexual functions.

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the disease-related variables, psychological status and the quality of life on the female patients' sexual function measured according to the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Thirty-seven sexually active female AS patients and 33 healthy controls were enroled in this study. Their demographic data were evaluated and the generalised pain in patients with AS was assessed according to the visual analogue scale (0-100 mm). Laboratory tests were conducted in order to measure the C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) of the patients. In comparison to the healthy control group, patients with AS had significantly lower scores in each of the five domains of the FSFI except for the pain domain (P<0.05). The disease activity, functional status, quality of life, radiological score and CRP levels were negatively correlated with the FSFI (P<0.05). No significant correlation was observed with the disease duration, smoking status, depression, anxiety, pain and ESR when the total scores and the scores from the domains of the FSFI were compared. The sexual function is impaired in female patients with AS. This impairment in the sexual function is especially related to the functional status and disease activity among the clinical and laboratory parameters.

No evidence of depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction following penile fracture.

There is a gap in the literature about psychological status of patients following penile fracture surgery. We aimed to assess the long-term psychological status of penile fracture patients who have been treated by immediate surgical repair. A total of 32 patients with penile fracture have been treated surgically at our center. These 32 patients and 30 healthy control subjects were included in the study. All participants have completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Glombok-Rust Inventory of Satisfaction Scale (GRISS), and the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT). The mean age of patients was 30.4 years and the mean body mass index was 27.3 kg m(-2). Sexual intercourse was the most common cause of the fracture. Immediate surgical repair was performed in all cases using a circumferential subcoronal incision and none of the patients had urethral injury intraoperatively. All tears were unilateral with a mean size of 1.5 cm. Only two patients had superficial dorsal vein rupture. At the day of assessment, the mean time elapsed after penile trauma was 15.9±6.3 months (range: 6-23). Only three patients had complications due to penile fracture including minimal penile curvature, penile nodule, and penile pain during intercourse. The mean scores obtained from PEDT, HADS, and GRISS did not show any statistically significant difference between groups. Anxiety, depression, premature ejaculation, and sexual dyssatisfaction levels were similar in both penile fracture patients who underwent immediate surgical repair and healthy control subjects. Immediate surgical repair of corporal ruptures have not shown any harmful psychogenic sequelae on patients with penile fracture.

Family functioning and its clinical correlates in overweight and obese patients.

AIM: Our aim is to evaluate the differences in family functioning and anxiety between normal, overweight, and obese subjects. METHOD: Overweight and obese patients were selected from the outpatient clinic of internal medicine department of a university hospital. Patients were classified into three groups as normal weight (N=82), overweight (N=33) and obese (N=50) patients. The normal weight group included healthy subjects. The individuals were examined by the same psychiatrist (MA). Beck Anxiety Inventory and Family Assessment Device were applied to all groups. RESULTS: When compared to normal weight patients, obese and overweight patients had significantly higher anxiety scores and higher scores in general functions, problem solving, communication, roles, affective responsiveness, and behavior control dimensions which reflect increased dysfunctions in their families. The total level of dysfunction that patients experience was predicted by alcohol dependence in the family during childhood period, any medical disorder in the current family, anxiety level and body mass index. CONCLUSION: When treating them clinicians should keep in mind that families of obese and overweight patients may have higher levels of dysfunctions.