Sexual dysfunction and distress in patients with depressive disorders at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Sexual dysfunction and distress are common among depressed patients and significantly affect their quality of life. This study aims to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and distress and identify potential associated factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with data collection from April to June, 2025. The study involved 258 participants with depression aged 18–65, recruited using a convenience sampling technique. The study tool consisted of a questionnaire we developed to assess sociodemographic and other factors and the validated Arabic versions of the Female Sexual Distress Scale–Revised (FSDS-R) to measure sexual distress and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) to evaluate sexual functioning. The ASEX mean total score was 18.04 ± 6.4, with 45.74% of participants exhibiting sexual dysfunction. A statistically significant relation was found between sexual dysfunction and female sex ( p < 0.001), lower monthly income ( p = 0.004), history of chronic diseases ( p = 0.022), taking medications for them ( p = 0.016), and experiencing physical symptoms ( p = 0.001). The FSDS-R mean total score was 20.62 ± 14.4, and 72.09% were deemed to be experiencing sexual distress. A statistically significant relation was found between experiencing sexual distress and marital status ( p = 0.008), having other psychiatric disorders ( p = 0.048), positive history of smoking cigarettes ( p = 0.010) and its duration ( p = 0.024), and positive history of chronic diseases ( p = 0.018). The study highlights the concerning figures of sexual dysfunction and distress among patients with depression and that numerous factors could be associated with them. These findings underscore the need for a multidisciplinary approach involving teams from psychiatry, gynecology, and urology. The findings also reflect the need to screen for high-risk groups, such as those with other psychiatric and chronic medical illnesses. Moreover, the findings highlight the need for prevention, early detection, and effective intervention for sexual dysfunction and distress to mitigate their negative consequences.