Efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of anxiety and depression in male sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Abstract Background Male Sexual Dysfunction (MSD), comprising erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE), exhibits an age-related prevalence affecting 50% of males beyond their fourth decade. Beyond physiological manifestations, MSD with comorbid anxiety and depression exerts profound psychosocial impacts. Emerging evidence suggests Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) may offer therapeutic potential for addressing this clinical intersection. Aim To systematically assess the efficacy of CHM on alleviating anxiety and depression in patients with MSD via a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods This study systematically searched four Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Biomedical Database, and VIP Database) and four international databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating CHM interventions for MSD with comorbid anxiety and depression were identified. Outcomes The primary outcome focused on changes in symptoms of anxiety and depression, while secondary outcomes encompassed overall male sexual function improvement. Results By synthesizing data from 12 RCTs involving 1050 participants, our findings provide the first robust evidence that CHM significantly alleviates anxiety and depression in MSD, while concurrently improving core symptoms of MSD, such as PE and ED. Notably, CHM formulations demonstrated superior efficacy over SSRIs in…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,050 participants or records.
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