Is male sexual dysfunction associated with impulse control disorders?

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between sexual dysfunction (SD) and mood, anxiety, and impulse control disorders (ICDs), as well as the effects of SD on quality of life.

Methods: One hundred fifty-seven patients diagnosed with SD (either erectile dysfunction [ED] or premature ejaculation [PE]) in a urology outpatient clinic were included in this study. The control group consisted of 60 individuals without SD. Mood and anxiety disorders were diagnosed with Structured Clinical Interviews for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (SCID, DSMIV). ICDs were diagnosed by psychiatric interview according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to determine levels of anxiety and depression, respectively. The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to evaluate quality of life.

Results: Of the 157 patients included in this study, 32 (39.5%) had at least one mood or anxiety disorder or ICD. Any psychiatric disorders were more prevalent in patients with SD. Any ICDs were statistically significantly more frequently seen in the patient group compared to the control group, with 36 patients with SD (22.9%) being diagnosed with an ICD. Scores from the BDI and BAI were statistically higher in patients with SD than in healthy subjects. All domains of WHOQOL-BREF scores were poorer in patients with SD than in individuals without SD.

Conclusion: The relationship between SD and psychiatric disorders is considerably strong. In the current study, a robust relationship between SD and ICDs was found.