Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-5lx2p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-25T16:18:18.041Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Epilepsy: Communication Strategies and Assessment Tools

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Olga Fishman
Affiliation:
Dr. Fishman is neurology resident physician in the Department of Neurology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York. Dr. Ettinger is associate professor in the Department of Clinical Neurology at, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, and chief of the EEG Division and Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, and director of the Huntington Hospital Epilepsy Monitoring Program at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Ms. Callanan is epilepsy nurse specialist at the Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Center in California.

Abstract

Sexual dysfunction is common among patients with epilepsy, but many clinicians do not include inquiries about this aspect of the patient's health in their routine evaluations. This article presents approaches for taking a sexual history and for discussing sexual problems. The utility of standardized sexual dysfunction questionnaires is reviewed and the important elements of appropriate and effective counseling are highlighted.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Gilliam, F, Hecimovic, H, Sheline, Y. Psychiatric comorbidity, health, and function in epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2003;4(suppl 4):S26S30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Blumer, D, Walker, AE. Sexual behavior in temporal lobe epilepsy. A study of the effects of temporal lobectomy on sexual behavior. Arch Neurol. 1967;16:3743.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Solursh, DS, Ernst, JL, Lewis, RW, et al.The human sexuality education of physicians in North American medical schools. Int J Impot Res. 2003;15(suppl 5):S41S45.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Montejo, AI, Llorca, G, Izquierdo, JA. Sexual dysfunction secondary to SSRIs. A comparative analysis in 308 patients [in Spanish]. Actas Luso Esp Neurol Psiquiatr Cienc Afines. 1996;24:311321.Google ScholarPubMed
5.Masters, WH, Johnson, VE. Human Sexual Response. Boston: Little, Brown; 1966.Google Scholar
6.Montouris, G, Morris, GL 3rd.Reproductive and sexual dysfunction in men with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2005;(suppl 2):S7S14.Google Scholar
7.Herzog, AG. Reproductive endocrine considerations and hormonal therapy for men with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1991;32(suppl 6):S34S37.Google ScholarPubMed
8.Harden, C, MacLusky, NJ. Aromatase inhibitors as add-on treatment for men with epilepsy. Expert Rev Neurother. 2005;5:123127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Physicians' Desk Reference. 56th ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Co; 2002.Google Scholar
10.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fourth Edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1994.Google Scholar
11.Crawford, P. Interactions between antiepileptic drugs and hormonal contraception. CNS Drugs. 2002;16:263272.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.McGahuey, CA, Gelenberg, AJ, Lankes, CA, et al.The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX): Reliability and validity. J Sex Marital Ther. 2000;26:2540.Google ScholarPubMed
13.Rosen, RC, Riley, A, Wagner, G, Osterloh, IH, Kirkpatrick, J, Mishra, A. The international index of erectile function (IIEF): a multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction. Urology. 1997;49:822830.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Brorsson, B, Ifver, J, Hays, RD. The Swedish Health-Related Quality of Life Survey (SWED-QUAL). Qual Life Res. 1993;2:3345.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Geisser, ME, Jefferson, TW, Spevak, M, Boaz, T, Thomas, RG, Murray, FT. Reliability and validity of the Florida Sexual History Questionnaire. J Clin Psychol. 1991;47:519528.3.0.CO;2-M>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Geisser, ME, Murray, FT, Cohen, MS, Shea, PJ, Addeo, RR. Use of the Florida Sexual History Questionnaire to differentiate primary organic from primary psychogenic impotence. J Androl. 1993;14:298303.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17.Duncan, S, Blacklaw, J, Beastall, GH, Brodie, MJ. Antiepileptic drug therapy and sexual function in men with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1999;40:197204.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18.Duncan, S, Blacklaw, J, Beastall, GH, Brodie, MJ. Sexual function in women with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1997;38:10741081.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Gil-Nagel, A, Lopez-Munoz, F, Serratosa, JM, Moncada, I, Garcia-Garcia, P, Alamo, C. Effect of lamotrigine on sexual function in patients with epilepsy. Seizure. 2006;15:142149.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Morrell, MJ, Guldner, GT. Self-reported sexual function and sexual arousability in women with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1996;37:12041210.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Annon, JS. The PLISSIT model: a proposed conceptual scheme for the behavioral treatment of sexual problems. J Sex Ed Ther. 1976;2(2):115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar