Neglected sexual needs: A qualitative study in Iranian patients with severe mental illness.

Background: This paper has attempted to explore views of patients with severe mental illness and their care providers about sharing sexual problems with care providers in these patients within the context of Iran.

Method: A total of 17 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in one of the psychiatric hospital in Tehran: 4 with patients, 2 with patient's family, and 11 with health providers who had been employed for 5 years in psychiatric wards at least. All participants were selected by purposive sampling.