Lower self-reported depression in patients with erectile dysfunction aftertreatment with sildenafil

Background: Depressive symptoms in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) may i mprove under successful ED treatment. Self-reported depressive symptoms wer e compared in men with ED after sildenafil treatment to a group of untreate d patients. Methods: In an open study, self-reported depressive symptoms of 54 men after successful treatment with sildenafil ( > 4 weeks) and 51 men awaiting ED treatment were investigated with the Center of Epidemiologic St udies-Depression Scale (CES-D). CES-D items were subjected to an explorator y factor analysis and group differences in CES-D items and factors were ana lyzed. Results: Groups were comparable with respect to demographic characte ristics and illness duration. CES-D total scores were lower in the group tr eated with sildenafil. Substantial differences were found in favor of the g roup treated with sildenafil. particularly in scores on a "positive affect" factor. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the relevance of depression as sociated with ED and the importance of effective ED treatment. Although dep ression was generally low in this sample, hedonistic aspects were substanti ally enhanced in the group of ED patients after sildenafil treatment. Limit ations: The open and cross-sectional study design does not permit causal in ference. Selection bias and motivational aspects to participate in the stud y can not completely be ruled out. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.