Changes in sexual functioning from 6 to 12 months following traumatic brain injury: A prospective TBI model system multicenter study

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Study investigated changes in sexual functioning and satisfaction with sexuality during the first year following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants were 182 patients (53 women and 129 men) with moderate to severe TBI who were admitted to 1 of 6 participating TBI Model System centers and followed in the community. The Derogatis Interview for Sexual Functioning-Self-Report (DISF-SR) and the Global Sexual Satisfaction Index (GSSI) were administered at 6 and 12 months after injury. The DISF-SR rates the quality of a person’s sexual functioning in 5 areas: sexual cognition/fantasy, sexual arousal, sexual behavior/experience, orgasm, and sexual drive/relationship. The GSSI is a subjective measure of satisfaction with current sexual relationship. Mean T-scores on the DISF-SR Arousal subscale demonstrated marginal improvement over time, with a 2.59-point increase from 6 to 12 months after injury. There were no significant differences over this 6-month period on the remaining DISF-SR subscales, including sexual cognition/fantasy, sexual behavior/experience, and orgasm. There was no significant change in satisfaction with sexual functioning on the GSSI from 6 months (72 percent satisfied) to 12 months (71 percent satisfied). Sexual function and satisfaction appears to be stable in those with moderate to severe TBI from 6 to 12 months after injury, with the exception of minimal improvement in arousal.

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