Sexual dysfunction after traumatic brain injury

In Chapter 12 of our textbook we learned about the hypothalamus and how it controls sexual behaviors in both the male and female. People thinking, dreaming, and planning about sex may all include activity in the amygdala, the hypothalamus, and the cortex. But what if you had a brain injury and was having sexual difficulties? This is what the article is about. Sexual dysfunction is characterized by a disturbance in sexual desire and in psychophysiological changes associated with sexual response cycles. Researchers have realized that many people with TBI are experiencing sexual dysfunction and they have begun to examine the frequency of it.  This research studies 322 individuals with TBI(traumatic brain injury) and 264 normal individuals with no TBI. Participants were given a QOL(Quality of Life) survey to fill out which has a detailed  section on many areas of bodily functions. Those relevant to sexual functioning, endocrine disorders, and perceived health are reported in this study. Participants also filled out a Beck Depression Inventory. The quality of life interview was given over the phone or in person. Participants were asked such questions about sexual functions, rating of health, rating of mood, rating of QOL, and endocrine difficulty. Thus this study is completely self report. They found that in individuals with TBI and those without TBI the only significant predictor of sexual functioning was age. While it is known that sexual desires decrease with age anyways, it was found that those with TBI had a decrease in sexual functioning at a younger age than those not disabled. Women reported greater sexual involvement after TBI while men reported less.

Mary R., H., Wayne A., G., Steven, F., Lisa, H., & Ellen, L. (2000). Sexual dysfunction after traumatic brain injury. NeuroRehabilitation, 15(2), 107. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.utm.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=10&hid=25&sid=c9dddb91-a94c-40ce-9a21-05cbcf921f34%40sessionmgr10