Abstract
BACKGROUND: Extra-pyramidal side effects, sexual dysfunctions and hyperprolactinaemia are major side effects with the use of antipsychotic medications that impede treatment adherence leading to relapse, increased cost of care and rehospitalization among patients with schizophrenia on antipsychotic medications. The study aims to compare the prevalence of extra-pyramidal side effects (EPSE), sexual dysfunctions (SD) and hyperprolactinaemia (HPRL) among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders on typical and atypical antipsychotic medications. The secondary aim is to determine if any associations exist between extra-pyramidal side effects, sexual dysfunctions and hyperprolactinaemia. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional hospital-based survey involving 209 patients with schizophrenia were interviewed with structured instruments for the assessment of sexual dysfunction, EPSE and the estimation of serum prolactin was done using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. Frequencies and Chi-square analysis were used to compare differences in EPSE, SD & HPRL. RESULTS: The study revealed non-statistically significant differences as a group between typical and atypical antipsychotic medication in terms of extra-pyramidal side effects, sexual dysfunction and hyperprolactinaemia. However, a significant association was observed when individual drugs were compared with haloperidol causing the highest frequency of hyperprolactinaemia (χ (2) = 14.9, P = 0.011). A significant relationship between sexual dysfunction and hyperprolactinaemia, sexual dysfunction and extra-pyramidal side effects as well as extra-pyramidal and hyperprolactinaemia was found when individual items for sexual functionin were used. CONCLUSION: The significant relationships between sexual dysfunction only in the domains of sexual desire and arousal with hyperprolactinaemia and extrapyramidal side effects as well as hyperprolactinaemia with extrapyramidal side effects point to a common anti-dopaminergic activity of antipsychotics via different pathways. Prospective studies among a larger sample of patients with schizophrenia are needed to unfold these relationships.