Izvorni znanstveni članak
Sexual Functioning in War Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Vesna Antičević
orcid.org/0000-0002-1552-0952
; Department of Psychiatry, Split University Hospital and School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
Dolores Britvić
; Department of Psychiatry, Split University Hospital and School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
Sažetak
Aim To assess the sexual dysfunction among Croatian war veterans
with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Method The study included two groups – 101 war veterans with PTSD
and 55 healthy control volunteers receiving outpatient general health
care in several outpatient clinics in Split. tructured interviews on different aspects of sexual functioning were conducted from April to October 2007 by trained interviewers. Results Respondents with PTSD reported significantly less sexual activity during the previous month than controls (sexual fantasies 2.5 ± 1.6 vs 3.7 ± 1.7, P<0.001; foreplay 2.4 ± 1.6 vs 3.5 ± 1.6, P<0.001; oral sex 1.6 ± 1.2 vs 2.6 ± 1.5, P<0.001; and sexual intercourse 2.4 ± 1.6 vs
3.8 ± 1.5, P<0.001) on a 7-point Likert type scale (from 1 – not a single time to 7 – more times a day). As reasons for reduced sexual activities, respondents with PTSD more frequently than controls reported their own health problems (3.2 ± 1.2 vs 1.5 ± 0.8; P<0.001) or health problems of their partner (2.4 ± 1.1 vs 1.9 ± 1.1; P = 0.004), whereas controls more frequently reported overwork than respondents with PTSD (2.6 ± 1.1 vs 2.1 ± 1.0; P = 0.007) on a 5-point Likert type scale (from 1 – not a single time to 5 – always). Respondents with PTSD reported antidepressant (n = 52, 51%) or anxyolitics use (n = 73, 72.3%). In a subgroup analysis, respondents with PTSD who were taking antidepressants masturbated less frequently than those who were not taking them (1.9 ± 1.3 vs 2.5 ± 1.6; P = 0.039), whereas premature ejaculation was more often experienced by respondents with PTSD who were not taking antidepressants than by those who were taking them (3.5 ± 1.8
vs 2.7 ± 1.5; P<0.049) both on a 7-point Likert type scale (from1 – not a single time to 7 – more times a day). Conclusion War veterans with PTSD had less sexual activity, hypoactive sexual desire, and erectile difficulties. Antidepressant therapy in veterans with PTSD may be associated with hypoactive sexual desire.
Ključne riječi
PTSD; antidepressants; sexual functionig
Hrčak ID:
29263
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.8.2008.
Posjeta: 1.517 *