Opportunity lost? : psychiatric medications and problems with sexual function : a role for nurses in mental health.

Aim. To explore patients’ non-adherence to psychiatric medication with mental health nurses. Background. The ability of consumers to maintain normal sexual behaviours is complicated by abnormally high incidence of sexual problems arising from the medications they are prescribed. Sexual side effects of psychiatric medications are identified as a major reason for non-adherence to psychiatric medication regimes yet it remains an issue mental health nurses tend to avoid intheir practice with consumers.