Clinical Profile and Sexual Dysfunction Among Patients Receiving Buprenorphine: A Cross-Sectional Study from an OST Centre in Kashmir.

Published

2026-06-12

Keywords:

Buprenorphine, Opioid Substitution Therapy, Opioid Dependence, Sexual Dysfunction, Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX)

Dimensions Badge

Issue

Article in Press: 2026

Section

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Marya, Altaf Ahmad Malla, Fazle Roub Bhat, Yasir Hassan Rather

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Authors

  • Marya Zahoor
  • Altaf Ahmad Malla
  • Fazle Roub Bhat
  • Yasir Hassan Rather

Abstract

Background: Opioid dependence is a major public health concern in Kashmir, with increasing use of buprenorphine-based opioid substitution therapy (OST). Understanding the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients in treatment is crucial for optimizing outcomes. This study was conducted to assess the clinical and sociodemographic profile of patients receiving buprenorphine at an OST centre, and to evaluate the prevalence and correlates of sexual dysfunction among them.

Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 102 patients on buprenorphine maintenance. Data were collected using a semi-structured proforma covering demographic details, opioid use characteristics, and treatment variables. Severity of dependence was assessed using the Severity of Dependence Scale. The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale was applied to 24 patients reporting sexual complaints.

Results: The mean age was 26.7 years, and 95.1% were male. Intravenous or combined routes were predominant (78.4%), and 44.1% were HCV positive. The mean SDS score was 10.08 ± 3.42, with 66.7% showing severe dependence. The mean buprenorphine dose was 3.89 mg/day. Among 24 patients assessed, 83.3% met ASEX criteria for sexual dysfunction. ASEX scores correlated positively with SDS (r = 0.422, p < 0.01) and duration of opioid use (r = 0.374, p < 0.05), but not with buprenorphine dose or duration on treatment.

Conclusion: Patients attending OST centres in Kashmir are predominantly young, male, and severely dependent, with high rates of injecting drug use and HCV infection. Sexual dysfunction is common and correlates with chronicity and severity of dependence. Integration of sexual health and HCV management within OST programs is recommended.

How to Cite

Marya, Malla, A. A., Bhat, F. R., & Rather, Y. H. (2026). Clinical Profile and Sexual Dysfunction Among Patients Receiving Buprenorphine: A Cross-Sectional Study from an OST Centre in Kashmir. Indian Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Retrieved from https://ijocp.com/index.php/IJOCP/article/view/238

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Peters PJ, Pontones P, Hoover KW, Patel MR, Galang RR, Shields J, Blosser SJ, Spiller MW, Combs B, Switzer WM, Conrad C. HIV infection linked to injection use of oxymorphone in Indiana, 2014–2015. New England Journal of Medicine. 2016 Jul 21;375(3):229-39. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1515195

2. Scales A. CDC joins department of public health in investigating HIV cluster among people who inject drugs. Vol. Apr. 2018;4.

3. Lerksuthirat T, Srisuma S, Ongphiphadhanakul B, Kueanjinda P. Sentiment and topic Modeling analysis on twitter reveals concerns over cannabis-containing food after cannabis legalization in Thailand. Healthcare informatics research. 2023 Jul 31;29(3):269-79. doi:10.4258/hir.2023.29.3.269

4. Ambekar A, Agrawal A, Rao R, Mishra AK, Khandelwal SK, Chadda RK. on behalf of the group of investigators for the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India. Magnitude of Substance Use in India. New Delhi: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. 2019:1-67.

5. Rather YH, Bhat FR, Malla AA, Zahoor M, Massodi PA, Yousuf S. Pattern and prevalence of substance use and dependence in two districts of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir: Special focus on opioids. Journal of family medicine and primary care. 2021 Jan 1;10(1):414-20. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1327_20

6. Rothman RB, Gorelick DA, Heishman SJ, Eichmiller PR, Hill BH, Norbeck J, Liberto JG. An open-label study of a functional opioid κ antagonist in the treatment of opioid dependence. Journal of substance abuse treatment. 2000 Apr 1;18(3):277-81. doi:10.1016/s0740-5472(99)00074-4

7. Gossop M, Darke S, Griffiths P, Hando J, Powis B, Hall W, Strang J. The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS): psychometric properties of the SDS in English and Australian samples of heroin, cocaine and amphetamine users. Addiction. 1995 May;90(5):607-14. doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1995.9056072.x

8. Rao R. The journey of opioid substitution therapy in India: Achievements and challenges. Indian journal of psychiatry. 2017 Jan 1;59(1):39-45. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_37_17

9. Ganapathi L, McFall AM, Srikrishnan AK, Kumar MS, Anand S, Lucas GM, Mehta SH, Harris SK, Solomon SS. Young people who inject drugs in India have high HIV incidence and behavioural risk: a cross‐sectional study. Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2019 May;22(5):e25287. doi:10.1002/jia2.25287

10. WANI SR, FARHANA A, PANDITH DZ, DAR M. Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV Infections among People Who Inject Drugs-A Study from Tertiary Care Centre of Kashmir Valley, India. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research. 2021 Jun 1;15(6).

11. Shukla L, Shivaprakash P, Kumar MS. HIV, hepatitis B & C in people who inject drugs in India: A systematic review of regional heterogeneity & overview of opioid substitution treatment. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2023 Nov 1;158(5&6):522-34. doi:10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_1930_23

12. Wickersham JA, Azar MM, Cannon CM, Altice FL, Springer SA. Validation of a brief measure of opioid dependence: the Rapid Opioid Dependence Screen (RODS). Journal of Correctional Health Care. 2015 Jan 1;21(1):12-26. doi:10.1177/1078345814557513

13. Yee A, Loh HS, Hisham Hashim HM, Ng CG. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among male patients on methadone and buprenorphine treatments: a meta-analysis study. The journal of sexual medicine. 2014 Jan;11(1):22-32. doi:10.1111/jsm.12352

14. Ramdurg S, Ambekar A, Lal R. Sexual dysfunction among male patients receiving buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance therapy for opioid dependence. The journal of sexual medicine. 2012 Dec;9(12):3198-204. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02219.x

15. Antony T, Alzaharani SY, El‐Ghaiesh SH. Opioid‐induced hypogonadism: pathophysiology, clinical and therapeutics review. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology. 2020 May;47(5):741-50. doi:10.1111/1440-1681.13246