Libido Lost
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Stuart Shipko, MD (psychiatrist) presents recent findings on the effects of antidepressants on sexual behavior.
"Sexual side effects occurring in response to taking antidepressant medications are more common than previously reported and may not always resolve once the medication has been discontinued. Informed consent regarding the use of these medications is most effectively accomplished when all professionals responsible for a patients care are educated about these side effects and work collaboratively to educate patients, thus increasing their ability to make an informed choice. The frequency with which the medications are prescribed, the evidence that sexual side effects have been underestimated, and the deleterious effects that such medication side effects may have on treatment and patient functioning make it imperative that psychologists educate themselves in order to best help those whom they serve. This entails a necessary expansion of psychologists knowledge base and scope of practice. Current efforts at informed consent are most likely inadequate, particularly for the treatment of children and adolescents, and leave a void that psychologists, given our often more frequent contact with patients, are particularly suited to fill."1
References:
1 Bahrick, Audrey S., Harris, Mark M., Sexual Side Effects of Antidepressant Medications: An Informed Consent Accountability Gap. J Contemp Psychotherapy. 2008
Clayton AH, Pradko JF, Croft HA, et al. Prevalence of sexual dysfunction among newer antidepressants. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63:357-366.
Ferguson JM. The effects of antidepressants on sexual functioning in depressed patients: a review. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001;62(suppl 3):22-34. antidepressants
Olfson, Mark; Marcus, Steven National Patterns in Antidepressant Medication Treatment . Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009;66(8):848-856. · Rosen RC, Lane RM, Menza M. Effects of SSRIs on sexual function: a critical review. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1999;19:67-85.
Contact the author at: Shipko@ix.netcom.com
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