Understanding the Experiences of People with Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people with post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD). Ten participants were recruited through a patient advocacy group to participate in individual, semi-structured interviews. The results were analyzed using descriptive phenomenological analysis. Eight themes emerged to describe participants' experiences with PSSD. Findings indicate that people with PSSD can undergo psychological, physical and sexual effects of withdrawal that cause suffering, hopelessness and alienation. In addition, findings suggest that there was a lack of understanding, awareness, informed consent or acceptance among healthcare providers about PSSD, which (1) compounded the suffering, trauma, hopelessness and alienation that people with PSSD experience about their condition and (2) contributed to an overall lack of trust in physicians and/or medicine in general and therefore reliance on oneself to find relief from the symptoms of PSSD.