Comparison of Marital and Sexual Functioning of the Spouses of Patients with Schizophrenia and Depressive Disorders

Aim: This study assessed the various aspects of marital functioning among the spouses of patients with schizophrenia and recurrent depressive disorder (RDD). Methodology: Spouses were assessed on Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Marital Forgiveness Scale, Quality Marriage Index, New Sexual Satisfaction Scale, and Arizona Sexual Experience Questionnaire. Results: Compared to the spouses of patients with RDD, spouses of patients with schizophrenia reported poor marital adjustment (in the consensus and satisfaction domains of DAS), lower quality of marriage, and significantly lower sexual satisfaction. Spouses did not differ significantly on account of marital forgiveness and prevalence of sexual dysfunction. Higher age of onset of schizophrenia in the patients was associated with better quality of marriage as assessed by using quality of marriage scale, better consensus, and satisfaction as per the DAS. Higher residual psychopathology and poor socio-occupational functioning in patients with schizophrenia were associated with poor marital adjustment and sexual satisfaction. Conclusion: To conclude, the present study depicts that the spouses of patients with schizophrenia have poorer marital adjustment and sexual satisfaction, in comparison to the spouses of patients with RDD.