Sexual Side Effects of Pharmacological Treatment of Psychiatric Diseases

Since the introduction of psychiatric medications with relatively good safety profiles, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, increasing attention has been given to side effects such as sexual dysfunction (SD), which, although unrelated to risks of mortality, could undermine compliance with treatment regimens and impair quality of life. Indeed, there is consistent evidence to suggest that a large number of psychiatric medications adversely affect one or more of the three phases of normal sexual response: desire, arousal, and orgasm.(1,2)