TANJU KETEN, ÜNSAL EROĞLU, ALİ YASİN ÖZERCAN, ŞEREF COŞER, FERHAT ÇELİKKALELİ, ERDEM ÖZTÜRK, MELİH BALCI, ÖZER GÜZEL, YILMAZ ASLAN, ALTUĞ TUNCEL
Comprehensive Medicine - 2023;15(4):350-355
INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED), defined as the inability to acquire or maintain an erection sufficient for a satisfactory sexual activity, is often associated with psychiatric disorders. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship of ED with anxiety disorder and decreased self-esteem. METHODS: The study group (Group 1) consisted of 80 male patients older than 18 years, who applied to the urology outpatient clinic with the complaint of ED between May 1, 2022, and October 31, 2022, and the control group (Group 2) consisted of 80 healthy men in the same age group without any erection problems. Group 1 was matched with Group 2 for age and level of education. Demographic data of all participants were noted. The erection status was scored with the International Index of Erectile Function-15 (IIEF-15), the anxiety status was scored with State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI I-II), and self-esteem was scored with Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the results of two groups were compared. Results: Group 1 (38.6±13.13 years) and Group 2 (36.9±9.6 years) were similar for their ages (p=0.804). The mean IIEF-EF score was 14.7±6.1 in Group 1 and 28.9±1.2 in Group 2 (p<0.01). The mean STAI I-II scores were significantly higher in Group 1 (p<0.01). The mean RSES score was significantly higher in Group 1 (2.1±1.11) compared to Group 2 (0.77±0.55), indicating lower self-esteem in patients with ED (p<0.01). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicated that ED was associated with low self-esteem and anxiety disorder.
