Affiliations 

  • 1 1 University of Malaya, Department of Psychological Medicine, University Malaya Centre for Addiction Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
  • 2 2 Clinical Academic Unit, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia
Am J Mens Health, 2018 07;12(4):1016-1022.
PMID: 29493379 DOI: 10.1177/1557988318759197

Abstract

Low sexual desire (SD) is not life threatening, but its negative impact on the quality of life and intimacy of a relationship among the patients on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is significant. This cross-sectional study involved 183 men on MMT who were interviewed and who completed the Malay version of the SDI-2 (SDI-2-BM), the Malay version of the self-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-BM) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires. Findings showed 32.8% ( n = 60) participants had low SD. Those who were older, had sexual partners, and were smokers achieved lower scores in both dyadic SD (≤24) and solitary SD (≤6), and suffered lower quality of life in their social relationship. MMT is very cost-effective in rehabilitating opioid dependence; however, as clinicians, we need to address and manage the issues of low SD and depression among patients on MMT, especially the older men.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.