Is Sexual Dysfunction in Young Adult Survivors to the L'Aquila Earthquake Related to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder? A Gender Perspective

Background Mental disorders are frequently related to sexual dysfunction (SD) but scant data are still available on trauma-related disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Aim To evaluate the relationships between SD and PTSD in 2009 L'Aquila (Italy) earthquake young adult survivors, with particular attention to gender differences.Methods Five hundred twelve high-school senior students were assessed 21 months after exposure by the following: Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self-Report (TALS-SR), for post-traumatic spectrum symptoms; Mood Spectrum-Self-Report (MOODS-SR) lifetime version, for mood spectrum symptoms (including SD-related symptoms). Descriptive and inferential statistics were adopted.Outcomes TALS-SR and MOODS-SR scores were analyzed to evaluate PTSD- and SD-related symptoms.Results Around 6.5% of subjects reported SD-related symptoms with males showing higher rates than females in each symptom, with a statistically significant difference in item n = 154 (& mldr;less sexually active). Survivors with symptomatological PTSD reported rates up to 10%, with higher ratio of endorsing at least one SD-related symptom than with NO-PTSD. Significantly higher total MOODS-SR SD-related symptom scores emerged in survivors with symptomatological PTSD than in those with NO-PTSD, and a 2-way ANOVA showed a significant main effect of symptomatological PTSD and gender and gender x PTSD interaction.Clinical Implications SD-related symptoms are reported among young adult survivors to earthquake exposure and the number of symptoms is related to PTSD, particularly in males, suggesting the need for accurate evaluation.Strengths & Limitations Strengths are the large sample of young adult survivors to a massive natural disaster; the long-time frame from exposure corroborating the role of PTSD; the assessment of symptoms specifically occurring after exposure. Limitations are as follows: the lack of a specific scale for SD; the self-report instruments other than clinical interviews, that may be less accurate; the lack of information on the presence of somatic illness and other mental disorders; the lack of a control group; the young age of the sample because of the lifetime sexual experiences of the subjects, in addition to the lack of a comparison measure of sexual functioning before the earthquake.Conclusions Our results highlight relevant rates of SD-related symptoms in young adults exposed to the L'Aquila earthquake, particularly males and subjects with PTSD, suggesting SD may represent a specific male gender-related somatic complaint. Our results highlight the need for accurate investigation of SD in such population to improve clinical management and appropriate treatment.