Depressive symptoms and marital adjustment among primary care patients with erectile dysfunction in Umuahia, Nigeria

Abstract

<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED), marital adjustment and depression. <br /><strong>Methods:</strong> The survey was conducted among primary care patients at Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. Subjects were 678 married, male primary care patients; aged 20–70 years (mean age = 45 years). ED was assessed by International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5) score, the presence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was assessed with the 5-item <br />version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and marital adjustment was assessed with the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS).<br /><strong>Results:</strong> The prevalence of probable depression by CES-D and ED by IIEF-5 score was 20.9% and 26.0%, respectively. Marital distress was rampant (62.0%) among subjects with ED (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05, <em>χ</em>2 = 196.58). Erectile dysfunction was associated with marital adjustment (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Partial correlation revealed that depression affects both ED and marital adjustment, and is closely related to both variables.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Partner involvement and screening for depression should be emphasised in the care of patients with ED.</p>