To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: DG DISPATCH - ECNP: Sexual Dysfunction Less Likely In Depressed Patients Taking Moclobemide URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/132C12.htm Doctor's Guide September 27, 1999
By Olwen Glynn Owen Special to DG News
LONDON, UK -- September 27, 1999 -- More than half of patients who suffer a depressive illness develop sexual dysfunction before starting treatment. A further substantial proportion of patients go on to develop sexual problems if treated with modern selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, a new study of German and Australian men and women reveals.
The results of the study were presented at the 12th congres of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, held in London, UK on September 21-25.
Researchers Michael Philipp, John Tiller and colleagues at University of Melbourne, Australia, and Bizertskrankenhaus, Landshut, Germany, studied sexual function in 338 depressed men and women before starting treatment and 268 patients after starting on antidepressant medication. Half of the patients received treatment with an SSRI and half with the reversible monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor moclobemide.
Patients were interviewed about how important sexual activity was to them and how sexual dysfunction affected their quality of life. Men were questioned about impaired erection and ejaculation; women were asked about sexual arousal, ability to achieve orgasm and overall satisfaction with sexual functioning.
Of the men, 97 percent said sexual activity was important and 92 percent of those with sexual dysfunction said their quality of life was impaired. Of the women, 99 percent said sexual activity was important and 87 percent of those with sexual dysfunction felt their quality of life was impaired. Among the men, 50 percent had problems with erection and 39 percent had problems with ejaculation. Among the women, 68 percent had problems with sexual arousal, 55 percent were unable to achieve orgasm and 68 percent were dissatisfied overall with their sexual functioning.
Of the 268 patients going on to antidepressant therapy, sexual dysfunction emerged in a further 32 subjects receiving an SSRI and three patients receiving moclobemide - a 10-fold difference. The depressive symptoms of patients responded well to therapy. In each treatment group, four out of five patients showed a treatment response and patients on moclobemide improved on all parameters of sexual function.
The authors concluded the two treatments were equally effective in relieving depression but sexual dysfunction was more likely to emerge in patients taking SSRIs.
"In patients for whom sexual function is important or sexual dysfunction is already present, moclobemide should be considered as a first-line antidepressant," they advise. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.