Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors in Dementia

Abstract

This presentation aims to review the current literature and the management of inappropriate sexual behaviors in dementia (ISBD). ISBD are challenging to assess, manage and treat due to being of multifactorial etiology, involving stigma and consequences and with the limited treatment modalities present.Sexual disinhibition is uncommon but a challenging symptom to address in older adults with neurocognitive disorders. Due to the lack of large-scale studies, there is no gold standard treatment for sexual disinhibition, and treatment is primarily left up to the physician's discretion based on the severity and onset of the patient's symptoms. While sexual disinhibition can be an uncomfortable issue to address, it is important to prioritize the physical and mental health of the patient and those who may be impacted by the hypersexual acts. The medical provider must evaluate cases of sexual disinhibition in each patient carefully and only recommend pharmacological treatment when deemed necessary.The discussion will review the epidemiology, current literature, terminology, stigma and consequences, as well as the neurobiology, differential diagnosis and treatment modalities, including non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic guidelines based on evidence-based review.