Seksualność pacjentów chorujących na schizofrenię
Sexuality of people suffering from schizophrenia

Summary/Abstract: Sexuality of people suffering from schizophrenia is an issue which generates little interest among professionals during diagnostics and treatment. This innate function of each human body, influenced by a complex of internal and external factors is one of vital elements determining a sense of health and quality of life according to WHO definition. Being an inherent aspect in everybody’s life sexuality affects their experiences including psychotic ones of people with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia typically strikes young people of reproductive age and the illness’s positive and negative symptoms make it difficult to build interpersonal relationships including sexual ones and contribute to sexual disorders. A negative social stereotype of a person with psychiatric disorder leads to stigmatization and discrimination and reduces their opportunities to build relationships and make sexual contacts. Additionally according to the rules while staying in hospital or other care institutions sexual activity is forbidden. Sexual disorders in patients with schizophrenia are also caused by pharmacotherapy and are one of essential factors responsible for non-compliance and treatment discontinuation. This article is based on literature identified through search of MEDLINE. So far few articles concerning the discussed issue have been published, however in recent years there has been a growing interest in this topic. Paying more attention to this aspect of life in people treated and rehabilitated by professionals would make it possible to understand patients better and help them to perform their social roles in a more effective way

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