Sexuality, TBI and Rehabilitation
Author: IOS Press
Published: 2013/04/05 - Updated: 2021/05/07
Topic: Disability Sexuality - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: Critical review in Neuro-Rehabilitation highlights impact of TBI on sexuality and importance of rehabilitation strategies. Sexuality in patients with chronic disease or physical handicaps warrants attention and consideration so that effective intervention plans can be formulated.
Introduction
Each year more than three million Americans are living with traumatic brain injury (TBI), a condition that is associated with physical, cognitive, and emotional problems that often affect their sexuality, and subsequently their marital stability, identity, and self-esteem.
Main Item
Taking an in-depth look at the impact of TBI on sexuality, an investigative team critically reviews fourteen studies representing a collective study sample of nearly 1,500 patients, partners, spouses, control individuals, and rehabilitation professionals to examine brain injury and sexuality. It is published in Neuro-Rehabilitation: An International Journal.
"Sexuality in patients with chronic disease or physical handicaps warrants attention and consideration so that effective intervention plans can be formulated. A healthy sex life may decrease muscular and emotional tension, increase pain threshold, reduce physical stress, improve sleep, and diminish emotional stress within relationships," says Jhon Alexander Moreno, doctoral candidate in the Department of Psychology at University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He has made this important issue the central topic of his research work, which is conducted under the international direction of Professors Michelle McKerral at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation in Montreal, and Juan Carlos Arango Lasprilla from the University of Deusto, Spain, in collaboration with Caron Gan from Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, Canada. "A lack of information and education on sexuality and disability is a major contributing factor towards the stigma attached to them."
To help clinicians understand the complexity of interactions between psychological factors, physical factors, and relationship factors, investigators have applied a bio-psychosocial model in which all three areas intersect to affect sexuality after TBI:
- Neuropsychological and psychological effects - A review of existing literature reveals that cognitive deficits and changes in body image, loss of identity, adjustment, depression, and anxiety can affect an individual's confidence level and ease in forming new relationships.
- Medical and physical issues - Medications prescribed to those with TBI may interfere with sexual function. Drugs such as anti-hypertensives, antidepressants, stimulants, and anticonvulsants can lower libido and cause erectile, ejaculatory, arousal, or orgasmic problems. Physical changes after TBI can also pose additional limitations in sexual functioning.
- Relationship changes - Stress on the patient and family members can cause marked shifts in relationships. For example, spouses of TBI survivors often perceive important personality changes. Social skills such as meeting people, explaining the TBI to others, and learning appropriate boundaries may need to be taught or relearned.
The critical review also provides perspectives from multiple viewpoints: Professional, survivor, and patient/partner. The team's evaluation of the existing literature notes methodological limitations that include insufficient sample sizes and an underrepresentation of women.
"Sexual difficulties are common in TBI survivors and affect both the individual and the family system. Sexual dysfunction is only one part of sexual difficulties observed in TBI patients, as the existence of other deficits in cognition, emotion and functionality may affect the expression of sexuality," says Moreno. "Assessment, treatment, and systematic follow-up of post-TBI sexual difficulties should always be part of the clinical agenda throughout all rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation stages."
The research team further notes that future studies need to explore the partner's perspectives and that researchers should favor studies considering both the patient's and the partner's viewpoints. In addition, they mention the need to include Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBT) considerations in the assessment and rehabilitation agenda of TBI.
Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by IOS Press and published on 2013/04/05, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, IOS Press can be contacted at iospress.nl NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.