What is it about?
Antidepressants can cause long term sexual dysfunction, even after the medication is stopped. This paper raises awareness of this condition, known as PSSD, and also highlights some other issues with antidepressants including the risks of mixing with recreational drugs.
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Why is it important?
This paper is important as it raises awareness of a condition which is misunderstood, and not commonly recognised. It highlights the need for informed consent before antidepressants are prescribed, and also highlights why open, non-judgemental conversations about sex and drug use are vital for patient safety.
Perspectives
Writing this article was really rewarding as it gave me the opportunity to shine the light on an issue which affects the well-being of many people. I am proud to raise awareness of the issue on behalf of the PSSD patient advocacy groups who are keen to highlight the condition. I am also passionate about supporting clinicians to have open and non-judgemental conversations about sex, sexuality, and drug use.
Stephen Marks
Manchester Metropolitan University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A clinical review of antidepressants, their sexual side-effects, post-SSRI sexual dysfunction, and serotonin syndrome, British Journal of Nursing, July 2023, Mark Allen Group,
DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2023.32.14.678.
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