Sexual dysfunction and experienced need for help for sexual problems in patients with mental health problems

Rationale: Despite data indication a high prevalence of sexual problems among victims of sexual abuse, an association of childhood sexual abuse with psychiatric disorders, and an association of psychiatric problems and sexual dysfunction, there seems to be limited attention in mental health care for sexual functioning of patients with psychiatric disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies indicate however that psychotherapy for sexual trauma related PTSD has positive effects on mental health, but that sexual problems may not be alleviated and ask for specific care. Research on the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients treated for psychiatric problems, the association with sexual trauma, and the need for help for sexual problems is however very scarce, while it may help to determine whether more attention for sexual functioning in mental health care may be valuable.
Objective: To answer the following questions:
a. Do male and female patients receiving or recently completing therapy for mental health problems experience more sexual dysfunction compared to an age-matched control group from the general population?
b. To what extend experience patients a need for help for sexual dysfunction?
c. What is the association of type and magnitude of psychiatric symptoms and sexual abuse experience with sexual dysfunction?

Study design: Observational matched cohort study
Study population: Patients (age 18 years or older) receiving or recently completing therapy at the outpatient clinic of the mental health institution Rivierduinen Leiden, and healthy age-matched controls from Leiden and surroundings.
Intervention (if applicable): NA
Main study parameters/endpoints: Sexual dysfunction (yes/no) based on the combined cut off scores of validated questionnaires assessing sexual function and sexual distress. , Secondary parameters will be experienced need for help for sexual problems, socio-demographic data and information about physical health, relational functioning, psychiatric symptoms, and sexual and physical trauma assessed by validated questionnaires. The questionnaires are completed using a protected online questionnaire software system. . Information about diagnosis, character and duration of psychotherapeutic treatment, and medication use will be derived from the patient files at Rivierduinen.
Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Completion of the online questionnaire will take 40 minutes. There is low risk associated with participation; answering questions on sexual function, psychiatric symptoms, and sexual and physical trauma may be experienced as emotionally burdensome, and confrontation with memories of sexual or physical trauma may elicit emotional distress.  

Patientes with mental disorders will experience more often sexual problems and a need for help for these problems compared to healthy controls

Questionnaires on sexual function (FSFI & IIEF), sexual distress (SDS), experienced need for help, relational functioning (MMQ), psychiatric symptoms (SQ48), and sexual and physical trauma (SPAQ, PCL-5) will be completed once

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