Review of Sexual Dysfunction in Male Schizophrenics

남자 정신분열병 환자에서 성기능장애에 대한 검토

Objective : There are four possible explanations for the sexual dysfunction of schizophrenics. The first is the possibility of a real structural aspect. The second possibility is that sexual function changes secondary to the illness. The third possibility is that there are medical and sociocultural barriers to sexual expression for chronic schizophrenics. The fourth possibility is that sexual dysfunction due to antipsychotic medication. However, we didn't know the precise cause of sexual dysfunction in schizophrenics. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of illness itself and antipsychotics on sexual dysfunction in male schizophrenics. Methods : The serum prolactin(PRL), testosterone(TST), and the plasma serotonin(5-HT) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and high performance liquid chromatography method for 100 healthy male schizophrenics according to the DSM-IV. Concomitantly, the severity of psychotic symptoms using Clinical Global Impression(CGI), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), and the severity of side effects for antipsychotics using Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale(EPSE), Anticholinergic Side Effects Scale(ACSE), the cognitive function using PANSS-Cognitive Function(PANSS-CF), Mini Mental State Exam-Korean(MMSE-K), and the sexual dysfunction using Sexual Functioning Questionnaire(SFQ), Questionnaire for Sexual Dysfunction in Men were assessed. The PRL, TST, and 5-HT levels of 50 healthy male controls who had no medical, neurological, and psychiatric illnesses were evaluated. The sexual function using SFQ(items FGa, FNa) were also assessed. Furthermore, the correlation with age, education, religion, economic status, age at onset, duration of illnesses, duration of admission, levels of PRL, TST, 5-HT, antipsychotic dosages, potency, benztropine, total duration of medication, EPSE, ACSE, CGI, BPRS, PANSS, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K and sexual dysfunctions were identified in male schizophrenics. Results : 1) The frequencies of sexual dysfunctions for schizophrenics(80%) were significantly(p<0.001) higher than those for controls(42%). The sexual dysfunctions according to sexual response cycle were 'low sexual desire' 76%, 'impairment of achieving erection' 75%, 'impairment of maintaining erection' 75%, 'impairment of obtaining orgasm' 32%, 'impairment in the quality of orgasm' 61%, 'impairment in quantity of ejaculate' 44%, 'premature ejaculation' 15%, and 'delayed ejaculation' 50%. 2) The PRL, 5-HT levels of schizophrenics($28.5{\pm}20.6ng/ml$, $298.5{\pm}89.1ng/ml$) were significantly(p<0.001) higher than those of controls($10{\pm}5.6ng/ml$, $169.2{\pm}37.8ng/ml$), while the TST levels of schizophrenics($4.3{\pm}1.5ng/ml$) and controls($4.5{\pm}1.2ng/ml$) were not significantly different. The sexual dysfunctions of schizophrenics who had abnormal 5-HT levels($4.7{\pm}1.3$ scores) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than those of who had normal 5-HT levels($3.8{\pm}1.6$ scores) on item D7. 3) The sexual dysfunctions of unmarried schizophrenics were significantly(p<0.01 : p<0.05) higher than those of married schizophrenics($6.1{\pm}2.8$ scores, $4.7{\pm}1.3$ scores on item FGa : ${\beta}$=-0.211 on item FNa). The sexual dysfunctions were positively correlated with the rise of 5-HT levels(r=0.209, p<0.05 on item D4 and r=0.241, p<0.05 on item D7), the higher age at onset(r=0.275, p<0.01 on item FNa : r=-0.202, p<0.05 on item FDa), the longer duration of illnesses(r=0.237, p<0.05 on item D6), the longer duration of admission(r=0.234, p<0.05 on item D4 : r=0.328, p<0.05 on item D6), the longer total duration of medication(r=0.237, p<0.05 on item D6). However, age, education, religion, economic status, PRL, TST levels, antipsychotics dosage, potency, benztropine, ACSE, CGI, BPRS, PANSS, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K scores were not correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. Conclusions : Male schizophrenics have significantly more sexual dysfunction to compare with controls. The higher frequencies of sexual dysfunctions were low sexual desire and erectile disorder. The unmarried, higher age at onset, and longer duration of diseases were positively correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. Also high 5-HT levels were positively correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. This means that studies of plasma 5-HT levels, albeit questionable indicators of central 5-HT function, offer some additional support for the association of sexual dysfunction with excess 5-HT activity as primary pathology of schizophrenia. Our findings suggest that excess 5-HT activity seems to affect the patient's sexual function.

1) 성기능장애 빈도는 정신분열병 환자군이 80%로 대조군 42%에 비해 유의하게 높았다(p<0.001). 성반응 주기에 따른 장애유형은 성적욕망장애 76%, 발기장애 75%, 발기유지장애 75%, 성적극치감의 질적감소 61%, 지루 50%, 사정시 정액량의 감소 44% 순서로 많았다. 성적극치감 횟수의 감소는 32%로 다른 장애유형에 비해 적었으며, 조루를 호소하는 경우도 15%나 되었다. 2) PRL 및 5-HT 측정치는 환자군에서 $28.5{\pm}20.6ng/ml$, $298.5{\pm}89.1ng/ml$으로서 대조군 $10{\pm}5.6ng/ml$, $169.2{\pm}37.8ng/ml$보다 유의하게 높았다(p<0.001). TST 측정치는 환자군이 $4.3{\pm}1.5ng/ml$, 대조군이 $4.5{\pm}1.2ng/ml$로 양군 모두 유의한 차이가 없었다. 3) 성기능장애를 증가시키는 변인은 결혼(미혼), 초발연령, 이병기간, 입원기간, 총약물투여기간 그리고 5-HT 측정치이었다. 특히 5-HT 비정상치군이 정상치군보다 성기능장애가 유의하게 높았다. 그러나 연령, 교육연한, 종교, 경제상태, PRL 및 TST 측정치, 항정신병약물용량, 약물역가, benztropine, ACSE, CGI, BPRS, PANSS, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K 점수와 성기능장애와는 무관하였다. 성기능장애는 정신분열병군에서 높았고, 성기능장애 유형별로는 성적욕망장애와 발기장애가 많았다. 미혼이거나, 초발연령이 높을수록, 질병에 이환된 기간이 길수록, 5-HT 농도가 높을수록 성기능장애가 증가하였다. 비록 혈중 5-HT 농도가 뇌 5-HT 활성을 어느정도 반영하는지는 알 수 없으나, 정신분열병 환자의 일차 병인인 과도한 5-HT 활성으로 인한 직접적인 성기능 억제효과 때문에 장애가 초래한다고 생각된다.