Gender differences in efficacy and sexual function in long-term trazodone treatment (preliminary results)

Objects. To evaluate the effect of trazodone on depressive or anxiety symptoms and sexual function depending on patient gender. Method. A total of 111 patients (59 men, 52 women) subjected to long-term treatment with trazodone were studied. The effect of the therapy was recorded according to the Clinical Global Impression – Severity of Illness (CGI-S) scale. The incidence of sexual dysfunction was assessed on the Utvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser (UKU) scale. Results. The effect of the therapy was similar in both genders. The incidence of diminished sexual desire was low and comparable in both genders; orgasmic dysfunctions were present only in women at the level of statistical significance. A positive correlation between the severity of the illness and the occurrence of diminished sexual desire and orgasmic dysfunction was found in women but not in men. Conclusion. The occurrence of sexual dysfunctions in trazodone therapy was lower than in population. It seems that trazodone is an effective therapy of depressive and anxiety symptoms in both genders and it is convenient for sexually active patients, because the occurrence of sexual dysfunctions was present the general to a low degree.