Sexual behavior after head injury in Indian men and women

Abstract

Disorders in sexual function constitute one of the most prevalent and least discussed problems following head injury. The disorders are often the outcome of an interaction between the neurological sequelae, the psychological makeup of the individual, and the sociocultural context of the couple. In a study of 34 head-injured patients, only 13 reached their premorbid level of sexual functioning over a period of 1 year. Deviant behavior, total loss of sexual function, and sexual dysfunction were noted in the rest. Deviant behavior was consistently associated with frontal lobe damage. Otherwise, neurological indices of head injury in the dysfunctional group were not different from those of the clinically recovered group. Associated psychiatric disturbances, gender-role differences, the impact on the marital harmony of the couple, and the role of sociocultural beliefs in the etiology of the disorders are analyzed and discussed, with a particular emphasis on Indian culture.

Prevalence, Comorbidities, and Correlates of Challenging Behavior Among Community-Dwelling Adults With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

“…The low prevalence rates of inappropriate sexual behavior and wandering/absconding were broadly consistent with previous reports. [24][25][26][27] Duration of PTA was associated with a significant increase in overall challenging behaviors, but there was a differential pattern of association across the behavioral domains. The lack of association with wandering/absconding and aggression against self could indicate that the etiology of these behaviors is due to other causal mechanisms (eg, environmental, psychological) rather than TBI-related neuropathology.…”

“…The majority of research has focused on aggression, whereas our knowledge about the other domains is based on a handful of studies. Prevalence rates for aggression (both physical and verbal) and lower-grade irritability range from as low as 11% to as high as 96%, 5,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] lack of initiation from 40.5% to 71%, [20][21][22][23] inappropriate sexual behavior from 6.5% to 30.4%, [23][24][25] wandering/absconding from 6% to 14%, 23,26,27 and perseveration in real-world behavioral domains (as distinct from perseveration on neuropsychological tests) at 25.3%. 23 Rates for inappropriate social behavior are harder to determine, due to a lack of consensus as to which behaviors fall under this construct.…”

Talking about sex after traumatic brain injury: perceptions and experiences of multidisciplinary rehabilitation professionals

“…Professionals highlighted concerns about service-users with TBI being sexually disinhibited, a link backed up by research [50][51][52]. Furthermore, professionals felt that service-users may be more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation as a result of their TBI.…”

Sexual Behaviour of Epileptics- A Biopsychosocial Study in Rural South India

“…The pan-Indian concept of semen as a 'vital force' resulted in the belief that its loss caused physical, psychological and spiritual ill-health. [4] The concept was popularised and given 'scientific sanction' by protagonists of alternate medicine, quacks and even the elite like Gandhiji. [3], [16] At the individual level the unpredictable occurrence, need for long-term management, necessity of day-to-day regularity with drugs and habits provoked persistent anxiety.…”

“…[4] Altered sexual behaviour among the epileptics has been attributed to disruption of normal limbic functions by epileptic discharges, altered pituitary and gonadal hormones, alteration of behaviour and hormones by Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) and social and psychological factors. [5] Interictal sexual abnormalities include hypersexuality, paraphilias and hyposexuality [6] [7] and were associated more often with temporal lobe foci, poor seizure control and depressive symptoms.…”