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An Exploration of Sexual Desire and Sexual Activities of Women with Psychosis

Huguelet, Philippe ; Mohr, Sylvia ; Miserez, Céline ; Castellano, Patrizia ; Lutz, Christian ; Boucherie, Maria ; Yaron, Michal ; Perroud, Nader ; Bianchi Demicheli, Francesco

In: Community Mental Health Journal, 2015, vol. 51, no. 2, p. 229-238

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    Title
    • An Exploration of Sexual Desire and Sexual Activities of Women with Psychosis
    Author
    • Huguelet, Philippe. Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Secteur Eaux-Vives, Rue du 31-Décembre 8, 1207, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Mohr, Sylvia. Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Secteur Eaux-Vives, Rue du 31-Décembre 8, 1207, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Miserez, Céline. Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Secteur Eaux-Vives, Rue du 31-Décembre 8, 1207, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Castellano, Patrizia. Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Secteur Eaux-Vives, Rue du 31-Décembre 8, 1207, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Lutz, Christian. Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Secteur Eaux-Vives, Rue du 31-Décembre 8, 1207, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Boucherie, Maria. Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Secteur Eaux-Vives, Rue du 31-Décembre 8, 1207, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Yaron, Michal. Psychosomatic Gynecology, Department of Gynecology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Perroud, Nader. Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Secteur Eaux-Vives, Rue du 31-Décembre 8, 1207, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Bianchi Demicheli, Francesco. Psychosomatic Gynecology, Department of Gynecology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • Community Mental Health Journal, 2015, vol. 51, no. 2, p. 229-238. Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com
    Other Version
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:332076
    Summary
    Sexual disturbances in patients with severe mental disorders can be related to medication, to psychological issues such as self-stigma and anhedonia, but also to the social context. This research aims to gain knowledge of desire and sexual practices in women suffering from schizophrenia. Women outpatients suffering from schizophrenia were compared with healthy women. Contrary to previous research, women with schizophrenia featured dyadic and individual desire similar to women of comparable age. Yet, only half of women with psychosis had sexual practice, either alone or with a partner. They were less satisfied with their activity, both in terms of function and psychological issues such as sexual self-esteem. Keeping into account the fact that most clinicians avoid this topic, this finding underscores the stigmatization these women suffer from, which prevents the opportunity of a possible improvement in this important interpersonal domain.