Article

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the prevalence and clinical features of inappropriate
sexual behavior (ISB) among a community-based cohort of clients of the New South
Wales Brain Injury Rehabilitation program. SETTING: All 11 community-based
rehabilitation services of the statewide network. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred
seven clients with severe traumatic brain injury.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional
multicentre study. MAIN MEASURES: Overt Behavior Scale, Disability Rating Scale,
Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration Scale-2, Health of the Nation Outcome
Scale-Acquired Brain Injury, Care and Needs Scale. RESULTS: The point prevalence
rate of ISBs was 8.9% (45/507) over the previous 3 months. Inappropriate sexual
talk comprised 57.9% of all ISBs, followed by genital and nongenital touching
behaviors (29.8%) and exhibitionism/public masturbation (10.5%). In 43 of 45
cases, ISBs were accompanied by other challenging behaviors, most often
inappropriate social behavior, and/or aggression. Individuals who sustained more
severe injuries and who were younger were significantly more likely to display
ISBs. People displaying ISBs were more likely to display higher levels of
challenging behaviors overall, lower levels of social participation, and more
neuropsychiatric sequelae than 2 other groups: people displaying no challenging
behaviors and people displaying challenging behaviors but no ISBs respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: ISBs pose a complex clinical challenge among a minority of
individuals with severe TBI.

Langue : ANGLAIS