DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i02.047

Pages: 711-716

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed drugs for depression and anxiety disorders. We aimed to evaluate treatment-emergent sexual dysfunction (SD) in 100 women who were diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders and on treatment with SSRIs. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were applied to identify women in remission. Changes in sexual functioning questionnaire-Female version (CSFQ-F-C) was applied to measure SD. Women on SSRIs for depressive and anxiety disorders had high rates of global and phase-specific SD. 28% of the participants experienced global SD and 74% of the participants experienced phase-specific SD in at least one of the domains. 70% of patients experienced reduced sexual pleasure, 56% of patients experienced reduced sexual interest, 53% of patients experienced reduced sexual excitement, 53% of patients experienced reduced orgasm and 48% of patients experienced reduced sexual desire/frequency. Our study highlights the importance of evaluating SD using validated scales in routine clinical care which otherwise may go unaddressed.