Serum amino acids, central monoamines, and hormones in drug-naive, drug-free, and neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects

BackgroundSexual activity and marital status have received little attention as an important aspect of schizophrenic patients’ care.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare sexual activity, including sexual intercourses with a partner and masturbation, and marital relationships in patients with schizophrenia and in healthy controls.Materials and methodA consecutive sample of 109 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia was constituted in psychiatry department of Farhat Hached hospital (Sousse, Tunisia), during a 24 months period. They were drug naïve or drug free for at least three months. 109 age and gender matched, consenting controls were recruited among blood donors. They were free from psychotic disorders as screened by MINI-PLUS. Sexual activity assessment involved sexual intercourses with a partner and masturbation.ResultsPatients with schizophrenia were less often married than healthy controls (18.3% vs. 54.1%; p < 10-3). Also, they had less often a sexual partner (42.2% vs. 70.8%; p < 10-3) than healthy controls. They reported similar rates of sexual activity (77.1% vs. 86.2%), but less regular sexual intercourses (11.1% vs. 48.1%; p < 10-3) than healthy controls. Also, they reported higher rate (59.6% vs. 24.8%; p < 10-3) and higher prevalence during the last month (9.7 ± 9 vs. 5.04 ± 8; p = 0.017) of masturbatory activity.ConclusionIn spite of lower prevalence of marital relationships, schizophrenic patients reported as frequent sexual activity as healthy controls. This sexual activity seems to be related to higher prevalence of masturbatory activity, which may be explained by their difficulties to be involved in relationship with a sexual partner.

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Sexual Function in Untreated then Treated Schizophrenic Patients: a Prospective Study

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)73083-8 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 1378-1378 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Y. El Kissi ◽

J. Mannai ◽

M. Laroussi ◽

S. Gaabout ◽

M. Ayachi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Function ◽

Sexual Experience ◽

Antipsychotic Treatment ◽

Global Score ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Vaginal Lubrication ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Drug Naïve ◽

A Prospective Study ◽

Drug Free

IntroductionHigh prevalence of impaired sexual function in patients with schizophrenia has been reported by several studies. Various factors were incriminated including the disease itself, the low level of social competence and treatmentside effects.ObjectiveTo compare sexual function in drug free schizophrenic patients and six months after initializing antipsychotic treatment.MethodsA consecutive sample of 109 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia was constituted in psychiatry department of Farhat Hached hospital (Sousse, Tunisia), during a twenty four months period. They were drug naïve or drug free for at least three months. Assessment was performed at two time points:T0: During an acute phase of the disease as defined by a BPRS global score ≥ 40 T1: six months after antipsychotic treatment.Assessment of sexual function used the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX).ResultsSexual function was impaired under antipsychotic treatment. In fact, we noticed lower global score of asex (p = 0.03) and lower subscores of drive (p = 0.015), arousal (p = 0.006), erection or vaginal lubrication (p= 0.010), orgasm (p= 0.001) and satisfaction (p= 0.005).ConclusionSexual function was impaired in patients under antipsychotic drugs, according to global score and to diffrent sexual dimensions subscores. This results seem to, prospectively, confirm the implication of treatment in sexual dysfunction occurence among schizophrenic patients.

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Prolactin responses to im haloperidol in drug-naive and drug-experienced schizophrenic patients

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1017/s0924933800001814 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 91-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M Markianos ◽

A Botsis ◽

J Hatzimanolis ◽

C Stefanis

Keyword(s):

Drug Treatment ◽

Clinical Response ◽

Dopamine Receptors ◽

Free State ◽

Neuroleptic Treatment ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Drug Naïve ◽

Male Patients ◽

One Year ◽

Drug Free

SummaryThe prolactin (PRL) responses to 5 mg im haloperidol were assessed in the drug-free state and after one month treatment with neuroleptics in 14 male schizophrenic patients who had never received drug treatment, and in 20 male patients who had discontinued their neuroleptic treatment for periods of two months to one year. Drug experienced patients showed lower PRL increases after acute haloperidol (mean 31.7 ng/ml) than drug-naive patients (mean responses 43.4 ng/ml). After treatment with neuroleptics in doses appropriate for the best clinical response, the baseline PRL levels were similar in the two groups, and im haloperidol did not cause any further PRL increases. The results provide evidence that after discontinuation of neuroleptics, the hypothalamic-pituitary dopamine receptors are subsensitive, and remain in that state for long periods of time.

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P03-207 Sexual dysfunction in a tunisian sample of drug free schizophrenic patients: A case-control-study

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)73081-4 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 1376-1376

Author(s):

Y. El Kissi ◽

S. Gaabout ◽

M. Laroussi ◽

M. Ayachi ◽

B. Ben Hadj Ali

Keyword(s):

Sexual Dysfunction ◽

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

Sexual Functioning ◽

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Sexual Experience ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Drug Naïve ◽

And Gender ◽

Drug Free

IntroductionSexual dysfunction is reported by up to 80% of schizophrenic patients and seems to be mainly associated with antipsychotic medications.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare sexual functioning and sexual dysfunction, as assessed by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, in drug naïve or drug free schizophrenic patients and in healthy controls.MethodA consecutive sample of 109 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia was constituted in psychiatry department of Sousse Farhat Hached hospital (Tunisia), during a 24 months period. They were drug naïve or drug free for at least three months. 109 age and gender matched, consenting controls were recruited among blood donors attending Farhat Hached hospital during the same period. They were free from psychotic disorders as screened by MINI-Plus. Sexual functioning was assessed using the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) in sexually active patients (N = 84) and controls (N = 94).ResultsThere were no statistical differences in sexual dysfunction rates between schizophrenic patients (20.6%) and healthy controls (13.1%), according to usual threshold values. Also, global ASEX score was similar in schizophrenic patients (12.93 ± 4.48) as in healthy controls (12.61 ± 2.60). Besides, different ASEX item scores including sex drive, arousal, vaginal lubrification/penile erection and orgasm have not shown any differences between patients and controls. Only sexual satisfaction score was higher in schizophrenic patients than in healthy controls (2.73 ± 0.95 vs. 2.43 ± 0.77; p = 0.02).ConclusionOur results showed a low rate of sexual dysfunction in drug free schizophrenic patients without statistical differences with healthy controls. Only sexual satisfaction was lower in schizophrenic patients.

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The Antiaggressive Action of Combined Haloperidol-Propranolol Treatment in Schizophrenia

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027//1016-9040.5.4.312 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 312-325 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Gadi Maoz ◽

Daniel Stein ◽

Sorin Meged ◽

Larisa Kurzman ◽

Joseph Levine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rating Scales ◽

Double Blind ◽

Propranolol Group ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Propranolol Treatment ◽

Simultaneous Decrease ◽

The Mean ◽

Haloperidol Treatment ◽

To Receive ◽

Drug Free

Psychopharmacological interventions for managing aggression in schizophrenia have thus far yielded inconsistent results. This study evaluates the antiaggressive efficacy of combined haloperidol-propranolol treatment. Thirty-four newly admitted schizophrenic patients were studied in a controlled double-blind trial. Following a 3-day drug-free period and 7 days of haloperidol treatment, patients were randomly assigned to receive either haloperidol-propranolol or haloperidol-placebo for eight consecutive weeks. Doses of medications were adjusted as necessary; biperiden was administered if required. Rating scales were applied to assess aggression, anger, psychosis, depression, anxiety and extrapyramidal symptoms. The mean daily dose of haloperidol was 21 mg (SD = 6.4) in the research group and 29 mg (SD = 6.9) in the controls. Mean and maximal daily doses of propranolol were 159 mg (SD = 61) and 192 mg (SD = 83), and of placebo, 145 mg (SD = 50) and 180 mg (SD = 70), respectively. Compared with the controls, the scores for the research patients decreased significantly from baseline, particularly after 4 weeks of treatment, for some dimensions of anger, psychosis, anxiety, and neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism. A tendency for reduced aggression was shown in the combined haloperidol-propranolol group for some dimensions but not others. These patients also required significantly less biperiden. The tendency toward elevated antiaggressive effect of combined haloperidol-propranolol treatment compared to haloperidol alone may be explained by a simultaneous decrease in aggression, psychotic symptomatology, and anxiety.

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