Función sexual en pacientes deprimidos: relación entre síntomas depresivos y disfunción sexual / Sexual function in depressed patients: relationship between depressive symptoms and sexual dysfunction

Introducción: La prevalencia de disfunción sexual es mayor en los pacientes con depresión que en la población general. Además la relación entre depresión y disfunción sexual parece ser bidireccional, en el sentido que la presencia de una de ellas puede desencadenar o exacerbar la otra, y el tratamiento de una puede mejorar la otra. Por otro lado, el deseo y el funcionamiento sexual se pueden ver afectados por los efectos secundarios de los fármacos antidepresivos. Métodos: A 50 pacientes deprimidos (según criterios CIE-10 de episodio depresivo o trastorno depresivo recurrente) con una vida sexual activa, se les administró en una visita basal y a los 3 meses la Escala de Depresión de Hamilton (HDRS), la Impresión Clínica Global (ICG) y el Inventario de Motivación y Energía (MEI). Además, cumplimentan en ambas ocasiones la Escala visual analógica de satisfacción con el funcionamiento sexual (VAS-SFS). Resultados: En la visita basal, el 52% de las mujeres y el 63% de los hombres cumplían criterios DSM IV-TR de alguna disfunción sexual siendo la más frecuente el trastorno orgásmico en ambos sexos. En la misma visita las puntuaciones media de la HDRS, MEI e ICG fueron 24,3, 46,4 y 4,2, respectivamente. En la evaluación a los 3 meses, 35% de las mujeres y 37% de los hombres reunieron criterios para alguna disfunción sexual, siendo las puntuaciones media de la HDRS, MEI e ICG de 11,3, 76,5 y 3, respectivamente. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de disfunción sexual en pacientes deprimidos es muy alta; por lo tanto, su exploración debe ser parte obligada en la evaluación de estos pacientes. Además, se observa que cuando los síntomas depresivos mejoran hay una reducción de los problemas de función sexual.

Introduction: The occurrence of sexual dysfunction is consistently higher in patients with depression than in the general population. The relationship between sexual dysfunction and depression seems to be bidirectional, that is, that the presence of either one of these conditions may trigger or exacerbate the other, and the treatment of one condition may improve the other. On the other hand, decreased sexual interest and function both occur as a consequence of antidepressant medication use. Method: Fifty depressed patients (ICD-10 criteria for depressive episode or recurrent depressive disorder) with an active sex life were assessed at baseline and at 3 months using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) and the Motivation and Energy Inventory (MEI). Moreover, all of them were given on both occasions the Visual Analogue Scale for Sexual Functioning Satisfaction (VAS-SFS). Results: At baseline 52% of the women and 63% of the men reported some sexual dysfunction according to DSM IV-TR criteria. The most frequently reported sexual problem was orgasmic disorder, both by men and women. At the same time the HDRS, MEI and CGI average were 24.3, 46.4 and 4.2, respectively. At the 3-month follow-up, 35% of women and 37% of men reported some sexual dysfunction, with HDRS, MEI and CGI average scores of 11.3, 76.5 and 3, respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among depressed patients is very high; therefore its exploration should be included in the evaluation of these patients. It was also confirmed that when the depressive symptoms improve, sexual function problems are also reduced.

A 25-year follow-up of patients admitted to methadone treatment for the first time: mortality and gender differences.

INTRODUCTION: We conducted a follow-up study to evaluate the outcome of a heroin-dependent population 25 years after their first enrollment in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). We assessed mortality in the sample plus actual drug use, treatment, and medical factors associated with drug dependence, focusing on possible gender differences. METHODS: Prospective follow-up study of 214 heroin-dependent patients consecutively admitted for MMT between 1980 and 1984 in the Asturias Public Health Service. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. An ad-hoc protocol on drug misuse and treatment, drug-related morbidity and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores were assessed in the survivors' sample. RESULTS: Information was received on 159 subjects, 106 of whom were deceased. Men accounted for 76.2% of the study cohort. Over the 25-year follow-up period, the SMR was 22.51 (95% CI=22.37-22.64). In the survivors sample, 39.6% were still enrolled in MMT; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was diagnosed in 47.2% and hepatitis B/C in 81.1%; current heroin use was reported by 22.6%. There were no gender differences in mortality or HIV and hepatitis B/C status. None of the female survivors were using heroin at the 25-year follow-up compared with 31.1% of males. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the high mortality of heroin addicts even after enrollment in MMT. Severity of the addiction in terms of mortality was similar in both genders. Women who survived the 25-year follow-up were more likely to have stopped using heroin than men.