Many men with erectile dysfunction also experience some symptoms of depression and decreased quality of life, said investigator Sidney H Kennedy, MD, professor of psychiatry and head, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Kennedy and colleagues therefore conducted a study to assess the effect of sildenafil on untreated depression in men with ED. Patients in the study met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - Revision IV criteria for dysthymia or depression, including minor depressive disorder but excluding any form of major depressive or psychotic disorder.

The 6-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study enrolled men with ED and a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) II score of 14 to 28. The effect of treatment on the depressive symptoms was assessed with the BDI II and ED was measured with standard psychiatric questionnaires. Quality of life (QOL) was measured with the Patient Reported Erectile Function Assessment (PREFA).

The study group consisted of 185 men with an average age of 51 years. Mean BDI II scores at baseline were 18.33 for placebo and 17.99 for the sildenafil group. The duration of depression was 3.32 years for the placebo group and 3.08 years for the sildenafil group. ED duration was 3.79 years and 4.06 years, respectively.

After 6 weeks of treatment, the BDI II score for the placebo group was 13.58 and 9.52 for the treated group (P = .0001).

Erections were achieved by 63% of the sildenafil group and 53% of the placebo group and the proportion of successful intercourse attempts was 77% for the sildenafil group and 40% for placebo (P < .0001).

QOL as measured by the PREFA was also improved in men taking sildenafil compared with placebo (P < .0001).

Adverse events were reported by 31% of the placebo group and 43% of the sildenafil group. Serious adverse events were seen in 2% for both groups.

Dr. Kennedy concluded that sildenafil was well tolerated and that it helped to improve ED, depression and quality of life.


[Presentation title: Sildenafil Improves Depressive Symptoms in Men With Erectile Dysfunction and Untreated Depression Not Otherwise Specified. Poster P 23]

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