Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and sexual functioning in patients with social anxiety disorder.
Method: A hundred and thirteen patients with social anxiety disorder, who applied Anxiety Disorders Outpatient Clinic of Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital between the dates of Jan 2009 and June 2011, were included in the study. Participants were evaluated by using Childhood Abuse and Neglect Questionnaire, sociodemographic form and Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX).
Results: The frequency of physical abuse history was 45.1% and the frequency of sexual abuse was 14.2% in the sample. Female participants with a history of physical abuse had significantly higher scores in the items of sexual desire, arousal, ability to reach orgasm and satisfaction from orgasm and total ASEX scores than those without a history of physical abuse. Female participants with a history of sexual abuse also had significantly higher scores in the items of sexual desire, arousal, ability to reach orgasm, satisfaction from orgasm and total ASEX scores than those without a history of sexual abuse. No significant difference was found between male participants with regard to physical abuse history in the items of total ASEX scores and sub-scale scores. Male participants with a history of sexual abuse had significantly higher scores in the item of satisfaction from orgasm score than those without a history of sexual abuse. No significant difference was also found between male participants with regard to sexual abuse history in the items of sexual desire, arousal, and ability to reach orgasm and total ASEX scores.
Conclusion: Childhood trauma history is frequently observed in patients with social anxiety disorder and childhood traumatic experiences can cause sexual function problems in patients with social anxiety disorder.