Telangana Journal of Psychiatry

Sexual dysfunction in male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome – A case-control study

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Article Type : Original Article

Author Details: Pavan Kumar Kadiyala*

Volume : 5

Issue : 2

Online ISSN : 2455-8559

Print ISSN :

Article First Page : 117

Article End Page : 123

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Alcohol may foster the initiation of sexual activity by removing inhibitions, but it impairs performance in the long-run, which leads to marked discomfort and relationship problems. These problems, in turn, would amplify alcohol misuse. Some studies have looked into sexual dysfunction due to alcohol, but there are only a few case-control studies reported from India.
Materials and Methods: 100 married male patients with alcohol dependence and 50 controls were evaluated. All study subjects were assessed for the socio-demographic profile and alcohol-related variables using semi-structured intake proforma, ICD 10, ICD 10 AM symptom checklist, and sexual.
Dysfunction checklist. Cochran-Mantel-Haenzel test and unconditional logistic regression were used for analysis.
Results: The two groups differed significantly with regard to age, domicile, family type, religion, nicotine use, and family history of alcohol use. 26% of patients had sexual dysfunction compared to 10% in controls with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.16 (CI: 1.13 -8.83). The difference almost reached statistical significance after controlling the confounding variables, age (p=0.06; common OR estimate=3.09), and co-morbid nicotine use (p=0.002; common OR estimate=5.37). About half of the patients with sexual dysfunction had it on more than one domain. Loss of desire was the prominent dysfunction in patients, while premature ejaculation was leading in controls. All those patients with chronic liver disease had sexual dysfunction.
Conclusion: The study highlights the global nature of sexual dysfunction in men with alcohol dependence. It emphasizes the need for clinicians to routinely assess the sexual problems in their alcohol drinking patients, especially those with liver disease.

Keywords: Alcohol Dependence, Sexual dysfunction, Alcohol, Sex.

Doi No:-10.18231/j.tjp.2019.026