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Sexually inappropriate behaviour in demented elderly people
K Alagiakrishnan1, D Lim, A Brahim
1Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. kalagiak@cha.ab.ca
Postgraduate Medical Journal
|July 7, 2005
Summary
Sexually inappropriate behavior in dementia patients is prevalent across all stages, particularly in vascular dementia cases. This behavior occurs equally in community and nursing home settings, with verbal and physical manifestations noted.
Area of Science:
- Psychogeriatrics
- Neurology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Abnormal sexual behavior is a challenging issue in dementia care.
- Understanding its prevalence and characteristics is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence, causes, and treatment of abnormal sexual behavior in dementia patients.
- To analyze the association of this behavior with dementia type, living situation, and patient history.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study in Canadian psychogeriatric practices.
- Inclusion of long-term care, community, and inpatient dementia units.
- Analysis of patient demographics, dementia type, and behavioral characteristics.
Main Results:
- 1.8% of subjects exhibited sexually inappropriate behavior.
- Vascular dementia (53.7%) was the most common type; 48.8% lived in nursing homes, 51.2% in the community.
- Verbal and physical inappropriate behaviors were common; community samples showed more verbal behavior and treatment.
Conclusions:
- Sexually inappropriate behavior occurs across all dementia stages and is linked to vascular etiology.
- Prevalence is similar in community and nursing home settings.
- Behavioral treatments were more frequent in community settings.
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