A comparative study evaluating the marital and sexual functioning in patients with schizophrenia and depressive disorders

Abstract

Aim: To assess marital functioning, quality of marriage, marital forgiveness, sexual dysfunction and sexual satisfaction among patients with schizophrenia and their spouses and compare the same with patients with depressive disorder and their spouses.

Methodology: 76 married patients with schizophrenia and 58 married patients with depressive disorders were assessed on Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Quality Marriage Index (QMI), Marital Forgiveness Scale (MOFS), Arizona Sexual Experience Questionnaire (ASEX) and New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS).

Results: Compared to patients with depressive disorder, patients with schizophrenia reported poor marital adjustment (in the consensus and satisfaction domains of DAS) and poor quality of marriage. Compared to patients with depressive disorder, patients with schizophrenia reported significantly lower sexual satisfaction. There was no difference in the prevalence of sexual dysfunction between the groups. Poor marital adjustment in patients with schizophrenia was associated with lower sexual satisfaction but not with sexual dysfunction.

Conclusion: Present study suggests that marital adjustment and sexual satisfaction is more impaired in schizophrenia, when compared with depressive disorders.

Keywords: Marital adjustment; Marriage; Schizophrenia; Sexual dysfunction; Sexual satisfaction.