Anxiety and sexual function
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Sexual functioning in patients with anxiety disorders: an investigation of the potential influence of neuroinflammatory and endocrine factors
IRAS ID
170365
Contact name
David Baldwin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Eudract number
2016-000337-48
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 4 days
Research summary
The relationship between anxiety disorders, sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction and treatment with psychotropic drugs has not been explored extensively. Little is known about the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with anxiety disorders, or its association with demographic and other clinical factors. The optimal management of sexual dysfunction in patients undergoing psychotropic drug treatment remains uncertain.
Antidepressants are the main pharmacological approach in patients with anxiety disorders (Baldwin et al. 2014). However randomised placebo-controlled trials have consistently shown that antidepressant drugs can be associated with the development or worsening of sexual dysfunction and can reduce self-esteem and affect mood and relationships adversely. Reduction of depressive symptoms through successful antidepressant treatment of depressed patients can be accompanied by reported improvements in sexual desire and satisfaction, but it is not known whether this is also seen in patients with anxiety disorders.
Recent investigations into anxiety disorders have included investigation of salivary and hair cortisol levels. An investigation involving serial saliva sampling found the cortisol awakening response to be less elevated in patients with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) than in patients with panic disorder (Vreeburg et al. 2010). A case–control study of cortisol concentrations in hair (a better reflection of cortisol levels over time) found significantly lower levels among patients with GAD than controls (Steudte et al. 2011). The associations of sexual dysfunction in anxiety disorders with endocrine disturbance (including hypothalamic pituitary axis disturbance) remains an under-researched area (Elnazer et al. 2014).
Although some work has already explored inflammatory markers in anxiety disorders (Hou et al. 2012), the association of sexual dysfunction in anxiety disorders with inflammatory markers is yet to be explored. This may lead to potential possibilities for the use of novel pharmacological agents such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in treating patients with anxiety disorders.REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0038
Date of REC Opinion
17 May 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion