Impacto dos antipsicóticos na resposta sexual dos doentes com esquizofrenia

• Autor(a) principal: Ana Gabriela da Costa Miranda
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/152705
• topic: Medicina clínica; Clinical medicine

Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic, and complex mental disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide. Schizophrenia most commonly has its onset in late adolescence or early adulthood and its symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, anhedonia, and social withdrawal, which can become highly debilitating if left untreated. The pharmacological treatment with antipsychotics is the mainstay approach to control the symptoms of the disease. However, the effectiveness of these can be accompanied by several side effects, including sexual dysfunction. The aims of this narrative review were to summarize and evaluate the potential impact of these drugs on the sexual response of individuals with schizophrenia and to analyze the factors that may contribute to that condition. Some studies suggest that certain antipsychotics, particularly first-generation or typical may negatively affect sexual response, leading to erectile dysfunction, decreased libido or difficulties reaching the orgasm. In comparison, second-generation or atypical antipsychotics, have been associated with a lower risk of sexual side effects. Although side effects still occur, they appear to be less frequent or less intense. The available evidence highlights that the occurrence and severity of antipsychotics side effects can vary from person to person. Some patients may experience significant problems with their sexual response, while others may experience little to no impact. In addition, schizophrenia itself has been shown to have an impact on patients' sexual response and function owing, for example, to negative symptoms or reduced initiative and motivation. Regular assessment of sexual function in schizophrenic patients by healthcare professionals is very important. The heterogeneity of individuals' response to antipsychotic treatment calls for individualized approaches to minimize the negative impact on sexual function, improve quality of life, and find appropriate solutions on a case-by-case basis. This may involve adjusting medication dosages, switching to alternative antipsychotics with a lower risk of causing sexual dysfunction or recommending other treatment options that can better meet patients' specific needs. Future research should focus on strategies to minimize these side effects, such as developing antipsychotic drugs with lower impact on sexual function of individuals with schizophrenia.