Sexual Dysfunction in Remitted Female Patients with Depression on SSRIs: Associated Factors and Relation to Marital Satisfaction and Quality of Life

Background: Sexual dysfunction, a potential side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can lead to marital dissatisfaction in remitted depression patients, affecting their quality of life (QOL), and all of these are risk factors for treatment noncompliance. We aimed to estimate the proportion of female sexual dysfunction and its subtypes compared to the general population and correlate it with various factors, including marital satisfaction and QOL, in remitted depressive patients on SSRI treatment. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study assessed 116 women, comprising 58 patients aged 18- to 45 years with remitted depression on SSRI monotherapy for a minimum of six weeks and their age-matched comparative group. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was used to assess depression severity and Female Sexual Functional Index, to assess sexual dysfunction. Couple Satisfaction Index and WHOQOL-BREF version were used to assess marital satisfaction and QOL, respectively. Results: In total, 56.89% of the patients had sexual dysfunction, compared to 39.65% in the general population. Exploratory analyses revealed that overall sexual functioning had a significant positive correlation with education (P = .002), marital satisfaction (P < .001), and QOL (P <.01), and a significant negative correlation with the age of onset of depression (P = .004), total marital duration (P = .02), and duration of current treatment (P = .02). Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction is common in remitted female depression patients on SSRI treatment, which may further impair their marital satisfaction and QOL. Hence, routine screening for sexual dysfunction is necessary for them.