Sexual dysfunction in cervical dystonia and blepharospasm

Figures & data

Table 1 Study participation and clinical characteristics of cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, and control samples

	CD	BL	Controls	P-valuea
Invited, n	101	110	116	–
Participating, n (%)	69 (68)	57 (52)	79 (68)	BL vs controls 0.01
Excluded, n	4	3	4	–
Study sample size, n	65	54	75	–
Sex (female/male), %	41–59	35–65	46–54	ns
Age, years	58.4±9.4	60.7±11.7	59.9±14.4	ns
Age at onset, years	43.3±12.8	53.4±11.8	–	CD vs BL <0.0001
Disease duration, years	15.2±10.2	7.6±5.6	–	CD vs BL <0.0001
Disease severityb	9.6±4.4	1.4±1.0	–	–
BDI totalc	8.2±7.5	7.5±6.1	4.9±4.4	CD vs controls 0.005 BL vs controls 0.04
BDI 10–19, n (%)	14 (21)	11 (20)	13 (17)	ns
BDI ≥20, n (%)	6 (9)	3 (6)	0	CD vs controls 0.01
Antidepressants, n (%)	7 (11)	5 (9)	1 (1)	CD vs controls 0.04 BL vs controls 0.04

Notes: If not stated otherwise, results are given as mean and SD.

a Nonsignificant results are not listed.

b CD: Tsui score (range: 0–25), higher scores indicate more severe dystonia; BL: Blepharospasm Disability Index (range: 0–24), higher scores indicate greater disability.

c BDI-II score (range: 0–63), higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms.

Abbreviations: BL, blepharospasm; BDI, Beck’s Depression Inventory; CD, cervical dystonia; n, number; ns, not significant.

Table 2 Sexual dysfunction in cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, and control samples

	CD, n=65	BL, n=54	Controls, n=75	P-valuea
Sexual dysfunction, n (%)	29 (45)	21 (39)	18 (24)	CD vs controls 0.009 BL vs controls ns (0.06)
ASEX total score ASEX subitems:	17.8±5.9	16.4±4.7	15.0±4.2	CD vs controls 0.003
Sex drive	3.8±1.2	3.6±1.1	3.3±0.9	CD vs controls 0.01
Sexual arousal	3.6±1.2	3.2±1.1	3.0±0.9	CD vs controls 0.001
Vaginal lub/erection	3.5±1.3	3.4±1.1	3.1±1.1	ns
Ability to reach orgasm	3.7±1.3	3.3±1.2	3.1±1.1	CD vs controls 0.02
Satisfaction with orgasm	3.2±1.5	3.1±1.2	2.6±1.2	CD vs controls 0.01
Worsening of sex, n (%)	15 (23)	7 (13)	–	ns
Steady relationship, n (%)	49 (75)	48 (89)	69 (92)	CD vs controls 0.007

Notes: If not stated otherwise, results are given as mean and SD.

a Nonsignificant results are not listed. ASEX (range: 5–30), higher results indicate more sexual dysfunction.

Abbreviations: ASEX, Arizona Sexual Experience Scale; BL, blepharospasm; CD, cervical dystonia; lub, lubrication; n, number; ns, not significant.