Towards a taxonomy of sexuality following traumatic brain injury: A pilot exploratory study using cluster analysis

INTRODUCTION Clinicians need to understand the heterogeneity of sexual problems following traumatic brain injury (TBI) for their adequate identification and treatment. OBJECTIVE To systematically identify groups of individuals with TBI showing similar patterns of sexual functioning. METHODS Forty-two individuals with TBI with a mean age of 37.9 years (SD = 9.7) and an average of 3.3 years post-injury (SD = 4.3). We included four primary measures in the cluster analysis (sexual quality of life questionnaire, sexual desire inventory, generalized anxiety disorder scale, and the patient health questionnaire for depression) and two secondary measures for cluster validation (post-concussion symptom scale and dysexecutive questionnaire). RESULTS A hierarchical cluster analysis using the Ward method revealed the existence of two groups of individuals with TBI: a) with sexual problems who were older, showed lower levels of sexual quality of life and sexual desire, with significant symptoms of anxiety and depression, and b) without sexual problems who were younger, showed high levels of sexual quality of life and sexual desire, as well as low complaints of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians must be more proactive in assessing sexual concerns, mostly when emotional and cognitive difficulties are present in older individuals with TBI, regardless of gender, chronicity and injury severity.