A STUDY ON EVALUATION OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN MALE PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE SYNDROME IN A PERIPHERAL TERTIARY CENTRE OF KARNATAKA

Abstract

Background: Conicting to the popular belief concerning the erogenous effects of alcohol, there exists scientic evidence which conclude on sexual dysfunction caused by chronic alcohol use, which leads to marked distress and interpersonal difculty. Aim: To estimate the relationship between sexual dysfunction in male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. Materials and Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design and recruited 47 male patients who came for de-addiction in a tertiary care centre. The evaluation was conducted using a specially designed intake proforma and tools such as Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire, Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, and International Classication of Disease 10 DCR. Results: 74.5% of the patients had sexual dysfunction – the most common type being dysfunction in achieving orgasm (74.5%), followed by unsatised sexual pleasure (66%), difculty in sexual arousal (53.2%), and erectile dysfunction (46.8%). Sexual dysfunction was found to be signicantly associated with the duration of alcohol dependence, amount of alcohol consumed per day, and severity of alcohol dependence. Conclusions: The study highlights the detrimental effects of alcohol on sexual function that we can use in motivational interviewing of patients with alcohol dependence syndrome.