Study of Sexual Dysfunction in People Living with Epilepsy at a Tertiary Care Center of South India.

Abstract

The people living with epilepsy (PWE) have a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction (sexual dysfunction) as compared to the general population. About 20-66% of the PWE develop sexual dysfunction. In spite of being so common, it is still an underdiagnosed co-morbidity in epilepsy patients. To estimate the proportion of sexual dysfunction among PWE, and determine the associated demographic and clinical factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted at an Epilepsy clinic of a tertiary care hospital located in South India, from March 2017 to May 2017. The PWE satisfying the inclusion criteria were given Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire (GAD-7). The demographic and clinical details were recorded. We estimated the proportion of sexual dysfunction, depression and anxiety and other factors associated with sexual dysfunction. After screening 3225 PWE, 108 patients were recruited. Sixtyfive (60.2%) PWE had sexual dysfunction, 64 (59.3%) had depression and 63 (58.3%) had anxiety. The sexual dysfunction had a significant association with depression (P = 0.01) and anxiety (0.04). Patients receiving sodium valproate had significantly lower rates of sexual dysfunction (P = 0.007). Other factors like seizure type, seizure frequency, enzyme inducer drugs and poly-therapy were not associated with Sexual dysfunction. We found Sexual dysfunction in 60% of the PWE in our setting. The proportion of depression and anxiety was 59.3% and 58.3% respectively. The depression, anxiety, and low-valproate use were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction.