Sexual dysfunction in male Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom patients with Severe post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

The medical records of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans who entered the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) residential recovery program were retrospectively reviewed for presence of diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculatory delay. Of 53 patients, 39 reported diminished libido, 26 reported erectile dysfunction, and 8 reported ejaculatory dysfunction. This rate of prevalence is comparable to that observed in prior studies of patients with chronic PTSD of many years duration, suggesting that the mechanism underlying such dysfunction is directly related to PTSD rather than age, other health concerns, chronicity of PTSD symptoms, or lifestyle. Severe PTSD is sufficient in and of itself to engender clinically significant sexual dysfunction of sufficient severity as to impair quality of life.