50% Of Clinical Depression Leads To Impotence October 2006
Depression, a well researched condition in medical science, has little attention to the consequences it can have on men. Having an impact on all aspects of every day life, depression can, above all, lead to erectile dysfunction and vice versa.
Associated with a state of melancholia, unhappiness or sadness, the medical diagnosis of depression refers to a condition of despair that could lead to the point of being disruptive to an individual's social and daily functioning. In addition, it can affect a man's physic by restricting his ability to perform and thus lead to erectile dysfunction (ED).
"There is a strong co-relation between depression and ED - either as cause or effect, but unfortunately it is often under-diagnosed. A man who suffers from depression is more likely to get ED since it affects his self-confidence, mood and state of relaxation. At the same time, men suffering from ED are prone to become depressive," comments Dr. Mohamed Sameh, psychiatrist from Belhoul Hospital in Dubai.
ED-related depression is quite prevalent among men. A recent international study has shown that 15% of a country's male population aged between 40 and 70 years is depressed. According to Dr. Sameh, this figure holds for the UAE as well due to similar lifestyles to Europe, the U.S. and Asia. At least 50% of my patients who suffer from depression complain from ED."
It is worth mentioning that various depression treatments include the intake of anti-depressants which in most cases stipulates ED. However, once discontinued a regular erection can be obtained and maintained provided the man is cured from his depression.
Dr. Sameh further comments: "There are several treatments available in the market to cure ED but not all of them restore self-confidence or provide the depressed patient with the necessary peace of mind. An oral medication such as Cialis (tadalafil) offers many qualities that are considered ideal for treating erectile dysfunction caused by depression. Cialis could be taken any time as it is not affected by food intake. It works in as little as 30 minutes and up to 36 hours. In addition, it can be taken together with anti-depressants which implies that at least the normal sex life can be restored despite the state of depression.
According to Dr. Sameh, depression is common among the UAE community due to the fast lifestyle changes the country is witnessing - changes that are partly in contradiction to local traditions which many men find difficult to overcome. Having to deal with ED on top just intensifies the depressed mood. In search for reasons which might trigger a depressed mood, one will find that in the UAE the majority of cases can be attributed to financial issues or family problems if not both: Instability in income, high cost of living, traffic, relationship problems or even the lack of family members are among some of the causes, to mention a few.
-Ends-
About ED
ED is defined as the consistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. As of 2004, it is estimated that approximately 189 million men worldwide have ED. Experts believe that 80 percent to 90 percent of ED cases are related to a physical or medical condition, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and prostate cancer treatment, while 10 percent to 20 percent are due to psychological causes. In many cases, however, both psychological and physical factors contribute to the condition.
For further information, please contact
Feda Kasesm or Maha Shoukri
(+ 971) 4 222 6667
email feda@tbwaraad.com,
maha@tbwaraad.com
© Press Release 2006
