Sexual Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A Narrative Review of the Mechanisms and Clinical Considerations

Psychiatric disorders, in general, have a high prevalence of sexual problems, whether from the psychopathology of the disorder itself, pre-existing or co-morbid sexual disorder or from side effects of the treatment for mental disorders. Many patients report an already existing sexual dysfunction at the onset of diagnosis. The risk association for developing sexual dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia includes antipsychotic use and resulting hyperprolactinemia, age, gender, and disease severity. Medication side effects lead to nonadherence, and relapses lead to structural changes in the brain, treatment resistance, and worsening of symptoms. Findings in certain studies propose serum prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone measurement as a tool for assessing patients with schizophrenia for sexual dysfunction. Regarding specific symptoms, females especially reported decreased desire at baseline and galactorrhea after treatment. The findings of this review, therefore, suggest that sexual dysfunction may be present in patients with schizophrenia before starting antipsychotic treatment and that patients, especially those who are female, are likely to develop hyperprolactinemia with antipsychotic treatment. Aripiprazole may be an emergent treatment for sexual dysfunction in those who use antipsychotics. It is important for patients to consider sexual dysfunction prior to prescribing antipsychotics. Since sexual dysfunction can impact a patient’s quality of life and affect treatment adherence, it is important for physicians to be aware and monitor patients for symptoms.