Mirroring Emotions: Patients' Versus Caregivers' Perceptions of Sexual Experience in Parkinson's Disease

Le résumé fourni par la source

Abstract Background and aims: The need for intimacy and sexual expression is an essential dimension of quality of life. As patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have to cope with essential changes in their global and sexual functioning, achieving a satisfying intimate and sexual relationship can be challenging. Sexual experience is a complex process that involves a dyadic relationship. In this study, we aimed to characterize the sexual experience of patients with Parkinson's disease and patients' vs caregivers' perceptions. Methods Twenty-seven PD patients and their caregivers were asked to complete the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) anonymously. They were instructed to refer to their sexual behavior over the past year and to consider behavioral changes that lasted for at least four consecutive weeks. Results Our data suggest that when considering sexual perceptions in PD, there is often agreement of judgment between patients and their partners. Overall, they have a rather good sex life, especially in the early stage of the disease, with similar behavior shown by men and women. Conclusions The effect of PD on the sexual and couple relationship challenges healthcare professionals to focus on the needs of both partners and to plan specific interventions in such a way as to prevent the deterioration of the couples' sexual wellbeing.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.