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Introduction: Hand eczema can cause considerable psychosocial disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and difficulties at work, and it may also cause sexual dysfunction., Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate sexual function in patients with hand eczema and to find out whether concomitant depression has an additional negative effect on sexual function in these patients., Main Outcome Measures: Sexual functions were evaluated in hand eczema patients., Methods: Ninety-one female (43 patients vs. 48 controls) and 79 male (45 patients vs. 34 controls) subjects were enrolled in the study. Hand eczema severity index was used to determine severity of hand eczema. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were used to assess sexual function. Quality of life was assessed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Diagnosis of depression was made based on the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV, while the Hamilton Depression Rate Scale was used for grading depression., Results: Among 43 female subjects with hand eczema, 26 had depression (60.46%); of the 45 male patients, 11 had depression (24.44%). FSFI total score was found to be significantly decreased in female patients with both eczema and depression compared with controls (20.84 +/- 9.19 vs. 24.04 +/- 3.40, P < 0.05). FSFI total score was found to be significantly decreased in female patients with both eczema and depression compared with those without depression (20.84 +/- 9.19 vs. 22.23 +/- 5.82, P < 0.05). IIEF total score was also found to be significantly decreased in male patients with or without depression compared with controls (52.36 +/- 14.83 vs. 59.88 +/- 5.65 vs. 62.03 +/- 11.04, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The results of the study demonstrated that patients with hand eczema had sexual dysfunction, and concomitant depression had an additional negative effect on sexual dysfunction. Patients with hand eczema should be evaluated with regard to sexual function and depression to provide a better quality of life.

This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) according to the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) and its relationship with age and education. Six hundred and thirty-nine male patients aged > or = 20 years attending a urology clinic were studied. After a detailed history and physical examination, all patients were evaluated with SHIM. Scores were categorized into 5 groups: severe (1-7), moderate (8-11), mild-moderate (12-16), mild (17-21) and normal (22-25). The patients were classified into three groups according to their application to the urology clinic: A--patients attending specifically for ED; B--patients not ED based on SHIM and attending not for ED; C--patients ED based on SHIM, but attending not for ED. In addition, patients were partitioned into 3 age groups according to their age: 20-35, 35-55 and >55 years. Educational levels were of 2 groups: lower education and higher education. Erectile dysfunction was determined in 3.7% in the 20-35 years group, 55% in 35-55 years and 41% in >55 years (P < 0.01). In men having ED through SHIM and attending not for ED, the ratio of ED was higher in the lower education than in the higher education groups (p = 0.01). SHIM is a diagnostic tool used for ED, and routine application of SHIM for patients attending the urology clinic is advisable.