Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sexual problems in schizophrenia: prevalence and characteristics. A cross sectional survey

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Objective

To determine the prevalence and characteristics of psychosexual problems in people with schizophrenia, and to compare the subjects’ and researcher’s perceptions of the presence of these problems.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey of 137 people with established schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, aged 18–65 in one geographical area of southeast England, using a semi-structured interview format.

Results

A total of 74% of men and 82% of women reported at least one ICD-10 defined sexual problem. Arousal problems were associated with physical health problems in men. Orgasm problems were more common in people in relationships. The researcher was about three times more likely to record a sexual problem than the respondents were to report one.

Conclusions

People with schizophrenia report sexual dysfunction that is similar in nature but which occurs at a higher rate than is reported in the general population. There are gender differences and differences in the perception of psychosexual problems between those with schizophrenia and the researcher.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McGuire G (2002) Prolactin elevation with antipsychotic medications: mechanisms of action and clinical consequences. J Clin Psychiatry 86:56–62

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dossenbach M, Dyachkova Y, Pirildar S, Anders M, Khalil A (2004) Effects of atypical antipsychotic treatments on sexual function in patients with schizophrenia: 12 month results from the Intercontinental Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (IC-SOHO) study. Eur Psychiatry 4:241–258

    Google Scholar 

  3. Osborn D, Nazareth I, King M (2007) Physical activity, dietary habits and coronary heart disease risk factor knowledge amongst people with severe mental illness. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 42:487–793

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Brown S, Inskip H, Barraclough B (2000) Causes of the excess mortality of schizophrenia. Br J Psychiatry 177:212–217

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Phelan M, Stradins L, Morrison S (2001) Physical health of people with severe mental illness. Br Med J 322:443–444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hippisley-Cox et al (2006) Study one: a comparison of survival rates for people with mental health problems and the remaining population with specific conditions. Disability Rights Commission, London (www.drc-gb.org). Accessed 2006

  7. Hippisley-Cox et al. (2006) Study two: use of statins in coronary heart disease patients with and without mental health problems. Disability Rights Commission, London (www.drc-gb.org). Accessed 2006

  8. Leff J, Trieman N (2000) Long-stay patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals: social and clinical outcomes after 5 years in the community. The TAPS project 46. Br J Psychiatry 176:217–223

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Golberg R, Rollins A, Lehman A (2003) Social network correlates among people with psychiatric disabilities. Psychiatr Rehabil J 26(Issue 4):393–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Bancroft J (1991) Human sexuality and its problems. Churchill-Livingstone, London

    Google Scholar 

  11. Phelan M, Stradins L, Amin D, Isadore R, Hitrov C, Doyle A (2004) The physical health check: a tool for mental health workers. J Ment Health 13(3):277–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Teusch L, Scherbaum B, Bohme H, Bender S, Eschmann-Mew G, Gastpar M (1995) Different patterns of sexual dysfunctions associated with psychiatric disorders and psychopharmacological treatment. Pharmachopsychiatry 28:84–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Friedman S, Harrison G (1984) Sexual histories, attitudes and behaviour of schizophrenic and ‘normal’ women. Arch Sex Behav 13:555–567

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Verhulst J, Schneidman B (1981) Schizophrenia and sexual functioning. Hosp Community Psychiatry 32:259–262

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bhui K, Puffet A, Herriot P (1995) A survey of sexual problems amongst psychiatric inpatients. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 30:73–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lukianowicz N (1963) Sexual drive and its gratification in schizophrenia. Int J Soc Psychiatry 9:250–258

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Aizenberg D, Zemishlany Z, Dorfman-Etrog P, Weizman A (1995) Sexual dysfunction in male schizophrenic patients. J Clin Psychiatry 56:137–140

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Keefe R, Mohs R, Losonczy M, Davidson M, Scherman J, Horvath T, Davus K (1989) Premorbid sociosexual functioning and long term outcome in schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry 146:206–211

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Smith S, O’Keane V, Murray R (2002) Sexual dysfunction in patients taking conventional anti-psychotic medication. Br J Psychiatry 181:49–55

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bhui K, Puffet A, Strathdee G (1997) Sex and relationship problems amongst patients with severe chronic psychosis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 32:459–467

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. American Psychiatric Association (2000) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, text revision DSM-IV-TR, 4th edn. American Psychiatric Association, Washington DC

    Book  Google Scholar 

  22. Burke M, McEvoy J, Ritchie J (1994) A pilot study of a structured interview addressing sexual function in men with schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 35(1):32–35

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Hirsch S, Leff J (1975) Abnormalities in parents of schizophrenics, Institute of Psychiatry, Maudsley Monographs No. 22. Oxford University Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  24. Goldner E, Hsu L, Waraich P, Somers J (2002) Prevalence and incidence studies of schizophrenia disorders: a systematic review of the literature. Can J Psychiatry 47:833–843

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. MacDonald S, Halladay J, MacEwan T, Sharkey V, Farrington S, Wall S (2002) Nithsdale schizophrenia survey 24: sexual dysfunction, case control study. Br J Psychiatry 182:50–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Nestoros J, Lehmann H, Ban T (1980) Neuroleptic drugs and sexual functioning in schizophrenia. Mod Probl Pharmacopsychiatry 15:111–130

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Akhtar S, Thompson J (1980) Schizophrenia and sexuality—a review and a report of 12 unusual cases. Part II. J Clin Psychiatry 41:166–174

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Klaf F, Davies C (1960) Homosexuality and paranoid schizophrenia: a survey of 150 cases and controls. Am J Psychiatry 116:1070–1075

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lyketsos G, Sakka P, Mailis A (1983) The sexual adjustment of chronic schizophrenics: a preliminary study. Br J Psychiatry 143:376–382

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Dunn K, Croft P, Hackett G (1998) Sexual problems—a study of the prevalence and need for healthcare in the general population. Fam Pract 15:519–524

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Mercer C, Fenton K, Johnson A, Wellings K (2003) Sexual function problems and help seeking behaviour in Britain: National Probability Sample Survey. Br Med J 327(7412):426–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Nazareth I, Boynton P, King M (2003) Problems with sexual function in people attending London general practitioners: cross sectional study. Br Med J 327:423–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Simons J, Carey M (2001) Prevalence of sexual dysfunctions: results from a decade of research. Arch Sex Behav 30(2):177–219

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Laumann E, Paik A, Rosen R (1999) Sexual dysfunction in the United States. J Am Med Assoc 291:537–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Kafka M (1993) Update of paraphilias and paraphilia-related disorders. Curr Affect Illn 12:5–13

    Google Scholar 

  36. Bancroft J, Loftus J, Long J (2003) Distress about sex: a national survey of women in heterosexual relationships. Arch Gen Behav 32(3):193–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Fugl-Meyer A, Fugl-Meyer K (1999) Sexual disabilities, problems and satisfaction in 18–74 year old Swedes. Scand J Sexol 3:79–105

    Google Scholar 

  38. Bancroft J, Herbenick D, Barnes T, Hallam-Jones R, Wylie K, Janssen E (2005) The relevance of the dual control model to male sexual dysfunction: the Kinsey Institute/BASRT collaborative project. Sex Relatsh Ther 20(1):13–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Osborne M, Hawton K, Gath D (1988) Sexual dysfunction among middle-aged women in the community. Br Med J 296:959–962

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Dossenbach M, Hodge A, Anders M, Molnar B, Peciukaitiene D (2005) Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia: international variation and underestimation. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 8:195–201

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Department of Health (2006) Choosing Health, supporting physical health needs of people with severe mental illness: commissioning framework. Department of Health, London

    Google Scholar 

  42. Department of Health (2006) Our health, our care, our say. Department of Health, London

    Google Scholar 

  43. Department of Health (2007) Commissioning framework for health and wellbeing. Department of Health, London

    Google Scholar 

  44. Roberts G, Wolfson P (2004) The rediscovery of recovery: open to all. Adv Psychiatr Treat 10:37–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the participants from the Hastings Mental Health Recovery Service (East Sussex), who agreed to take part in this study.

Conflicts of interest statement

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. St. Leonards Community Mental Health Team, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Gambier House, West Hill Road, St. Leonards On Sea, East Sussex, TN38 0NG, UK

    Ellen Wan-Yuk Harley

  2. Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Jed Boardman & Tom Craig

Authors
  1. Ellen Wan-Yuk Harley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jed Boardman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tom Craig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ellen Wan-Yuk Harley.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Harley, E.WY., Boardman, J. & Craig, T. Sexual problems in schizophrenia: prevalence and characteristics. A cross sectional survey. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 45, 759–766 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0119-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0119-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation