How can mental disorders affect a person's sexual health?

Mental health and sexual health are closely linked, so it is perhaps not surprising that psychiatric disorders can have an impact on a person's sexual health. Many studies that have looked at psychiatric disorders and sexual dysfunction have found higher rates of sexual dysfunction in people with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia.

There are several factors associated with these conditions that can contribute to sexual dysfunction, but they are generally thought to have to do with the psychological symptoms people experience and/or the medications they take for their condition, although there is no evidence that one type of condition causes the other.

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters, chemicals that carry messages from one nerve cell to another in the body, play an important role in sexual processes. tadalafil Neurotransmitters that play a role in sexual functioning, particularly dopamine, serotonin, and epinephrine, are also very involved in the symptoms and treatment of psychiatric disorders.

For example, serotonin levels are lower in people with depression or OCD than in the general population. Abnormalities in dopamine levels have also been found in individuals with schizophrenia, and dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters have been linked to anxiety disorders.

Medications such as antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotics, anti-anxiety medications can affect neurotransmitter levels and consequently impair sexual function.

Interpersonal factors

Psychiatric disorders can also have a major impact on a person's interpersonal relationships, which can adversely affect their sexual health. Individuals with depression may experience increased negative interactions and less social support. Interpersonal difficulties are also prevalent in humans