041 Using Antidepressants during Development is Associated with Lower Sexual Desire in Adulthood

Abstract

Antidepressants are increasingly prescribed to children and adolescents in 2012, 3.5% of children age 10-14 and 6.2% of adolescents aged 15-19 in the US took an antidepressant1. Certain antidepressants, such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class, are associated with significant detrimental effects on sexual function among adults. The long-term effects of antidepressant use are unknown, despite evidence from animal models that early antidepressant use can impact sexual function in adulthood2. It is possible that antidepressant use as a teen may interfere with sexual and romantic relationship development and lead to impaired sexual function in adulthood. To explore possible neurodevelopmental effects of antidepressant use on adult sexual function. We surveyed 464 adults (mean age = 20.55) about their mental health history, relationship status, psychiatric medication use, and current sexual function. Participants were screened for lifetime depression and anxiety using validated instruments (Patient Health Questionnaire 2 item screener (PHQ-2); Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2 item screener (GAD-2); those who screened positive were asked the age of first episode. Participants also completed a version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) modified for use across sexes, from which calculated the FSFI-desire subscale. A list of 48 common psychiatric medications was presented and participants were asked to indicate which (if any) they had ever used and when. From this list we indexed SSRI use prior to age 18 as well as current use.