Assessment of dyadic adjustment and sexual functions in patients with bipolar disorder

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess sexual functions, dyadic adjustment and related factors in bipolar patients who have been followed up in outpatient clinic of Bipolar Disorder Unit of Department of Psychiatry, Cukurova University Medical School. Method: A total of 50 euthymic bipolar patients (32 female, 18 male) and 50 healthy individuals as a control group (27 female, 23 male) were included in the study. Interviews were completed at two steps. At first step, a data form for socio-demographic features and two other forms for clinical characteristics of bipolar disorder and sexual functions have been filled by clinician The Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-4) Axis I and Axis II were used to determine axis I psychiatric disorders and personality disorders. UKU Side Effect Rating Scale was filled by interviewer. In addition all patients completed Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASES), Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) completed. At the second step the collected data were assessed and scales were interpreted. Results: The prevalence rate of sexual dysfunction disorders (SDD) were 50% (n=50) in bipolar patients. SDDs were most commonly seen in bipolar male patients in our sample. The most common sexual dysfunction was sexual interaction in female and sexual intercourse frequency in male bipolar patients. Total GRISS scores were higher in both bipolar male and female patients than control group. There was no statistically significant difference between bipolar patients and control group in total DAS points. Valproic acid was found to have less sexual side-effects than other medications. Presence of psychotic features during the episodes was related with more SDDs in our study. SDDs had negative effects on dyadic adjustment in patients with bipolar disorder. Conclusion: The results of this study have shown that the prevalence rate of sexual dysfunction disorders is higher in bipolar patients than healthy individuals. SDDs have negative effects on dyadic adjustment especially in male gender in both bipolar patients and control group. The strongest relation between SDDs and dyadic adjustment were found in bipolar male patients.