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SEXUALITY AFTER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
Alexander Moreno 1 , Michelle McKerral 1,2,3
1.Centre de recherche en neuropsychologie et cognition, Université de Montréal; 2.Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire
en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain; 3.Centre de réadaptation Lucie‐Bruneau
Introduction
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can directly and indirectly affect important aspects related to sexuality and sexual
function due to the various cognitive, psychiatric/behavioral, and physical/functional sequelae presented by
survivors. In fact, it has been suggested that 50 to 60 % of persons with TBI report some level of disruption in
their post‐injury sexual functioning.
Objective
The objective of this study was to critically review the empirical evidence concerning TBI and sexuality.
Methods
A literature review was performed in databases related to psychology and health sciences such as PsychINFO,
Proquest, PsychArticles, andMedline. The keywords that were used in the search were traumatic brain injury
and sexuality, and their variants.
Results
Studies were classified according to the participants enrolled and findings are presented from the
professional’s (7 %), the patient’s (64 %), the non‐injured spouse’s (7 %), and the patient‐partner’s
perspectives (22 %).
Conclusions
Most of the evidence based literature concerning TBI and sexuality has been described from the patient’s
perspective. The partner's perspective was addressed primarily to have an index of the effect of sexual
dysfunction on the relationship and only in one study it was used to establish if the patient’s self‐report was
an accurate measure of his or her actual sexual functioning. Loss of insight or anosognosia may limit the
patient’s self‐perception of deficits and may be an obstacle when trying to get reliable information concerning
sexuality issues. A comprehensive approach is required to address sexual functioning of TBI survivors since
they have special medical, legal, behavioral, and education needs.
3