No abstract

INTRODUCTION Sexual dysfunction is common among depressed male patients; however, its causes are complex and multifactorial. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for sexual dysfunction associated with depression. METHODS One hundred and twenty-five consecutive depressed male patients were interviewed at Jeddah Psychiatric Hospital. They were divided in to two groups, on the basis of whether they had sexual dysfunction or not. These two groups were then compared on a number of potential risk factors, using chi-square and odds ratio. RESULTS The majority of patients had not previously been asked about sexual dysfunction. Seventy-seven (62%) presented with sexual dysfunction and 48 (38%) without. Marital difficulties, hypertension, diabetes, severity of depression and tricyclic antidepressants were significant risk factors. No association was found with demographic origin, occupation, education or marital status. These results are similar in some aspects to those reported in western studies. CONCLUSIONS (a) The majority of doctors do not take a sexual history despite its high prevalence. (b) Physical illness and overall severity of depression were important risk factors.

This study investigated the prevalence of epilepsy in learning disabilities and its association with mental illness and behavioural disturbance. Case notes were examined of adults and elderly people registered with specialist learning disability services in the Hull and Holderness area, England. Clients were divided into two groups: people with learning disabilities with an active history of epilepsy and those with no history of epilepsy. Findings from 240 clients were: 45 percent had active epilepsy; of these, 33.3 percent had onset of seizures before the age of 1 year, 76.9 percent had more then one seizure a month, and 50 percent were on one anti-epileptic drug. No significant association was found between epilepsy and behavioural disturbances or mental illness. These results may add some weight to the argument that epilepsy does not necessarily increase the incidence of mental illness and/or behavioural disturbance.