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Sexual disorders in Huntington's disease
J P Fedoroff1, C Peyser, M L Franz
1University of Toronto School of Medicine, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Sexual disorders are common in Huntington
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Human Sexuality
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder.
- Sexual dysfunction is a potential complication of HD.
- Limited unbiased data exists on the prevalence and types of sexual disorders in HD patients and their partners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency and nature of sexual disorders in an unbiased sample of Huntington's disease patients.
- To assess sexual disorders in partners of Huntington's disease patients.
- To explore potential associations between specific sexual dysfunctions and paraphilic disorders in HD patients.
Main Methods:
- Assessed sexual disorders using DSM-III-R criteria in 39 Huntington's disease patients and 32 partners.
- Analyzed the types and frequency of reported sexual disorders.
- Investigated correlations between inhibited orgasm, increased sexual interest, and paraphilic disorders.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of sexual disorders was observed: 82% in HD patients and 66% in partners.
- Hypoactive sexual disorder was the most common diagnosis in both groups.
- HD patients with inhibited orgasm and increased sexual interest showed a higher incidence of paraphilic disorders.
Conclusions:
- Sexual disorders are highly prevalent in individuals with Huntington's disease and their partners.
- Hypoactive sexual disorder is a significant issue for this population.
- The co-occurrence of inhibited orgasm, increased sexual interest, and paraphilias in HD patients warrants further research into potential etiological links.
Abstract:
This study assessed the frequency and type of sexual disorders associated with Huntington's disease (HD) in an unbiased sample. Of 39 HD patients and 32 of their partners, 82% and 66%, respectively, had one or more sexual disorders by DSM-III-R criteria. The most frequent for both groups was hypoactive sexual disorder. Significantly more patients who had both inhibited orgasm and increased sexual interest also had paraphilic disorders. Findings support the hypotheses that sexual disorders are frequent among HD patients and their partners and that sexual disorders among HD patients may take the form of increased sexual interest or paraphilias. The association between inhibited orgasm, increased sexual interest, and paraphilic disorders will require further investigation but suggests a possible etiology for some paraphilias.