This dissertation details a qualitative study that examined nine individuals living with sexual side effects of SSRIs that had persisted after the discontinuation of pharmacological treatment (referred to as post-SSRI sexual dysfunction or PSSD).
The investigation sought to answer the following research questions:
(1) How do individuals with persistent sexual side effects make sense of and meaning from their experience?;
(2) How have these individuals' sense of self or identity changed over the course of their sexual difficulties?; and
(3) What role could a counseling psychologist have had in helping the individual with his or her situation?
Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodology, eight themes emerged from the data including:
(1) difficult emotional experiences;
(2) varied coping strategies;
(3) negative impact on romantic relationships;
(4) changed identity;
(5) changed attitude toward sex;
(6) problems with medical providers;
(7) mixed feelings about SSRIs; and
(8) desire for collaborative healthcare.
A review of relevant literature, a detailed explanation of the research methodology, a description of the results incorporating participant narratives, and a discussion of the results highlighting implications for counseling psychologists and limitations of the study are included in this dissertation.