Sexual Disinhibition

Neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia are associated with greater caregiver burden and desire to institutionalize, though previous work largely examines the cumulative effects of many behavioral symptoms. Sexual disinhibition could be particularly stressful due to stigma attached to these behaviors. Links between care recipient sexual disinhibition, caregiver burden, and caregiver desire to institutionalize were examined by analyzing cross-sectional data from 730 family caregivers recruited online.

Purpose: Sexual disinhibition in dementia is understudied and discrepant frequency rates are reported. Measures designed to capture general disinhibition may under-identify sexual disinhibition, and lack of assessment uniformity may contribute to inconsistent endorsement.

Dementia caregiving is costly for society and has been linked to many adverse outcomes in the caregiver, including financial and occupational strain, greater psychological distress, and physical comorbidities, together termed “caregiver burden.” Certain dementia care recipient characteristics, such as the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, agitation), are associated with high caregiver burden. One neuropsychiatric symptom, sexual disinhibition, has received little research attention.