To compare the risk of sexual arousal difficulties between two groups of depressed female patients in remission who were treated with either escitalopram or fluoxetine. Associated factors were also examined.
OBJECTIVES: The current study compares the risk of sexual pain in depressed female patients in remission between those who were treated with Escitalopram and Fluoxetine. The associated factors were also examined.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involved 112 depressed female patients (56 treated with Escitalopram and 56 treated with Fluoxetine) who were in remission (as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV) in the past 2 months and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of ≤ 10) from the psychiatric clinic, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). They were interviewed using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). Hypoactive sexual desire was assessed using the Pain subscale of Malay Version of the Female Sexual Function Index (MVFSFI).
RESULTS: The results show that risk of sexual pain was relatively low (16.07% for all patients), with no statistical significant between the two groups (17.86% for fluoxetine group, 14.29% for escitalopram group). Older age (adjusted odds ratio = 1.524, 95% CI = 1.199, 1.938) was the only factor significantly associated with sexual pain disorder.
CONCLUSIONS: There should not be any barrier when continuing the use of escitalopram or fluoxetine as antidepressants amongst the female patients.
KEYWORDS: depression; escitalopram; female; fluoxetine; sexual pain
Study site: Psychiatric clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM)