SLEEP-RELATED PAINFUL ERECTIONS - CLINICAL AND POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC FEATURES

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and the polysomnographic findings of a sample of patients affected by sle ep-related painful erections (SRPE). In a 6-y period 18 patients were diagnosed as having SRPE. The mean age at the onset of the disease was 39.8 +/- 11.6 y and the mean duration of SRPE was 5.4 +/- 3.5 y. Acco rding to ICSD criteria, about 60% of patients had a severe form of the disease. None of the patients met any DSM IV Axis-I and Axis-II diagn oses. Twelve patients complained of excessive daytime sleepiness. SRPE patients, compared to age-matched controls, showed a reduced sleep ef ficiency, an increased wake after sleep onset and a reduced percentage of REM sleep. This study confirms that in SRPE there are no clear pre disposing factors, no familial pattern, but REM sleep fragmentation. C oncerning the pharmacological treatment, in the history of patients, p ropranolol and paroxetine, but not amitriptiline and lorazepam, showed a temporary efficacy in some patients.