Sexuality and sexual adjustment of patients with chronic pain

Abstract

Purpose: To describe sexual functioning and its relationship with psychological measures in chronic pain patients.Method: It is a self report survey with a convenience sample. Seventy consenting chronic pain patients responded to a questionnaire. Mean age was 49-9 years (range 29–74); mean pain duration was 146–7 months (range 6–624). Participants endorsed a wide variety of pain conditions.Instruments used: (1) Derogatis Inventory of Sexual Functioning; (2) Multidimensional Pain Inventory; (3) Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; (4) Multidimensional Health Locus of Control; (5) Hopkins Symptom Check List; (6) Vanderbilt Pain Management Inventory; (7) Coping Strategies Questionnaire.Results: Sixty-six per cent of patients were interested in sex, 50% were satisfied with current sexual partner and 20% considered current sexual life to be adequate. Over 70% fantasized at least once a month. Only 44% experienced normal arousal during intercourse; 33% practiced masturbation and 47 % were involved in sexual intercourse or oral sex at least once a month. The majority were dissatisfied with orgasmic activities. No relationship was found between pain severity, duration, frequency and sexual functioning. A relationship was found between disability status, age and several psychological variables and various domains of sexual functioning.Conclusions: Sexual problems are common in chronic pain patients. Patients who reported symptoms of depression and distress had more sexual problems.