[An exploration of sexual desire and sexual activities of women with psychosis]. / Désir et pratiques sexueues chez les femm-es souffrant de psychose.

ABSTRACT

Most clinicians avoid discussing sexuality with patients with severe mental disorders. Sexual disturbances can be related to medication, to psychological issues such as self-stigma and anhedonia, and to the social context. We studied desire and sexual practices in women suffering from schizophrenia, in comparison with healthy women. Contrary to previous research, women with schizophrenia featured dyadic and individual desire similar to women of comparable age. Yet, only half of women with psychosis had sexual practice, either alone or with a partner. They were less satisfied with their activity, both in terms of function and psychological issues such as sexual self-esteem. This finding underscores the stigmatization these women suffer from, which prevents the opportunity of a possible improvement in this important interpersonal domain.