Profile of Marital and Sexual Life of Patients With Schizophrenia and Recurrent Depressive Disorder: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the marital profile, family size, fertility rates, and perception about various aspects of marriage among the couples, with one of the partner having schizophrenia and compare the same with a group of couples, with one of the partner having recurrent depressive disorder (RDD). Methodology: A total of 76 married patients with schizophrenia and 58 married patients with RDD were evaluated by using a semistructured interview, which covered information about the duration of marriage, number of children, different aspects of marital and sexual life like perception about marriage, mental illness, sexual compatibility, and other variables. Results: A significantly higher proportion of patients with schizophrenia had onset of illness prior to marriage, when compared to the patients with RDD. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of mean number of children, number of spontaneous abortions, and medical termination of pregnancies. The mean numbers of postnatal deaths were significantly higher in the group in which one of the partners was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Compared to spouses of patients with RDD, higher proportion of the spouses of patients with schizophrenia reported sexual incompatibility since the beginning of the marriage and lack of full satisfaction with sexual life. Compared to patients with RDD, higher proportion of patients with schizophrenia were worried about their children developing mental illness and believed that people with mental illness should not marry. Conclusion: To conclude, this study demonstrates that compared to the spouses of patients with RDD, spouses of patients with schizophrenia have higher negative perception about the marriage.