Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Nonpsychotic Disorders: A Cross-sectional Hospital-based Study

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction among female psychiatric patients is zcommon and can be affected by various bio-psycho-social factors. The clinician’s or patient’s reluctance to actively inquire or spontaneously report these sexual difficulties creates a lacuna in our understanding of this association. This study aimed to assess the proportion of women with nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders reporting sexual dysfunction and evaluate its association with sociodemographic and clinical variables. METHODS: This cross-sectional study conducted over six months included 113 women attending the psychiatry outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, including diagnosis based on International Classification of Diseases 10th version (ICD 10) criteria, were assessed using a specially designed proforma. Sexual functioning was measured by Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) and the Change in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire-Female Version (CSFQ-FV). RESULTS: Sexual dysfunction was reported by 67.3% of patients. Among patients on psychotropics, 49% reported worsening of sexual dysfunction after treatment initiation. Sexual dysfunction was associated with increasing age (χ(2) = 7.86, P = 0.04), lower educational qualification (χ(2) =3.41, P = 0.04), skilled occupation (χ2 = 4.49, P = 0.03), lower socioeconomic status (χ(2) = 4.27, P = 0.03) and presence of ongoing psychosocial stressor (χ(2) = 4.49, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Difficulties in different domains of sexual functioning are prevalent among women with nonpsychotic disorders. Sociodemographic and relational factors, along with treatment status, can influence sexual dysfunction in these patients. Clinicians should be vigilant of this association and should plan treatment to enhance compliance and outcome.