A Comparative Study of Sexual Attitudes among Clinically Stable Patients of Schizophrenia and Normal Population

Background: An important facet that remains continually evasive in the ministrations of patients suffering from Schizophrenia is the sexual domain. The perspectives of patients of Schizophrenia towards sexuality (or Sexual Attitudes) are crucial with respect to the disease process itself (negative symptoms) and its progression, physical health, stigmatization, use of psychotropic medications and compliance. Sexuality is one of the four basic psychological needs for an individual besides attachment, autonomy yet the changes observed in their sexual attitudes were not statistically significant when compared to that of normal controls. Their attitudes towards sex continued to remain same, implying that sexuality is just as indispensable to them as to the normal population; and hence sexual dysfunction due to disease progression or use of psychotropic medications will only result in struggle to form relationships and poor treatment compliance. Conclusion:Objective assessment of sexuality is undoubtedly difficult, so more focus is needed to improve the rating scales.Clinicians must be more informed on this domain and make questioning about sexuality an integral part of a routine clinical interview; and thereby come up with more efficient methods in its management.