PSSD

Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

Summaries

PSSD Lab / Ghost

• An excellent primer on PSSD - evidence that it exists, links to resources, etc.
• An old Wikipedia page on PSSD has an excellent summary.
• Video explaining the 5-HT1A Autoreceptor Desensitization theory.
• Suggested treatment plan with a quick summary of PSSD characteristics.

Recovery stories

u/JacobCook715

While this Reddit user's account is suspended, the research is available online.

• Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/PSSD/comments/12g5u0n/pssd_recovery_database_100_full_partial_recoveries/
• Excel document: https://1drv.ms/x/s!AsSCWpHHo6fMg4U7iP7gb61d2praow

The PSSD Lab (Wordpress blog) is one source of data used in this compilation.

TalkingAnt

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NCz87IJJ4CKsoxs7piN4JjSo3ZKZ2PBNatTfYnlFO8c/edit#gid=746811409

Jrod

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bP3CDR8RKTe-rr74-2Eh-TFIsMrleCFr3luyEGq7ayw/edit

r/PSSDHealing

https://www.reddit.com/r/pssdhealing/

Research

PSSD Network list of published studies

https://www.pssdnetwork.org/literature

Published papers on SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction (not to be confused with POST SSRI sexual dysfunction)

• Genome-wide association study of SSRI/SNRI-induced sexual dysfunction [...] - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2012.01.023 Sci-Hub - This study found that 11 SNPs mapped to the intronic region of the MDGA2 gene were associated with SSRI sexual dysfunction.

u/Bubzoluck (PharmD)

The Reddit user Bubzoluck has posted results of his/her PSSD survey. Findings include:

• Two thirds were male. 80 responses received.
• Young demographic. (It is unclear if this is a reflection of the Reddit demographic?)
• Most people were on their PSSD med for less than a year
• Most people reported having PSSD for >1 year since stopping their med
• SSRIs were the most common cause of PSSD (82.5%). 3 medications were the most common- Zoloft/sertraline (30%), Lexapro/escitalopram (20%), and Prozac/fluoxetine (12%).

Core symptoms were:

• Sexual Symptoms
  • Difficulty generating or sustaining an erection
  • Reduced genital sensation
  • Pleasureless or weak orgasms
  • Reduced response to sex stimuli
  • Vaginal dryness
• Cognitive Symptoms
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Short an/or long term memory impairment
  • Loss of creativity and visualization inside mind
  • Speaking, reading, writing, solving slower
  • Difficulty understanding information
• Mood Symptoms
  • Depression and low moods
  • Feelings of emptiness or helplessness
  • Loss of energy and insomnia
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Lower self-esteem and lack of pleasure

Sheetrit et al.

Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction; Clinical Characterization and Preliminary Assessment of Contributory Factors and Dose-Realted Relationship by Joseph Ben-Sheetrit et. al Journal of Clin Pharm, 06/2015. DOI:10.1097/JCP.0000000000000300

The paper is available here.

This 2015 paper makes an argument that PSSD is a real condition.

Despite the aforementioned limitations, the current investigation adds to the emerging evidence that SSRI/SNRI-induced sexual dysfunction persists in some patients beyond drug discontinuation and suggests that this phenomenon may not be fully explained by alternative non-pharmacological factors, including depression and anxiety.

GoldenHour515 Survey

Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/18wiqi15udhz2e0/AABD1gHfv3Dy0sfJ6TKZlowDa?dl=0

Deleted Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/PSSD/comments/15982kr/survey_results/

• 5/135 participants stated that PSSD symptoms began after reinstatement. This suggests that (for those 5 participants) the main cause of PSSD was not an immutable characteristic such as genetics.

• Symptom comparison between PSSD, COVID vaccine injury, and Long COVID (based on GoldenHour515's data): https://forum.sickandabandoned.com/t/some-overlap-between-pssd-long-covid-and-post-vax/254

Studies currently recruiting

See currently recruiting PSSD studies.