Gender and sexuality with TBI

Question 1

TBI and gender differenes in outcomes

Answer 1

Number of males with TBI outnumber females 2:1

Females with worse outcomes 1.6x men

Female mortality 1.3x men

Female with mild cognitive impairment 1.7x men

Men returning to work is 24% and women returning to work is 4%

Question 2

Domestic violence and TBI

Answer 2

battered women report high rates of blows to the head 92% and loss of consciousness 40%

psychological symptoms = distress and worry, anxious arousal, depression, PTSD

Question 3

psychological sequelae of TBI in women

Answer 3

higher rates of depression compared to men

higher rates of PTSD compared to men

higher rates of sexual difficulty compared to men ( mTBI more than severe)

complicating factors include premorbid sexual trauma and abuse

Question 4

women specific issues with TBI

Answer 4

Body image concerns that impact self esteem

Sexual Dysfunction – problems with positioning, changes in sex drive, inability to achieve orgasm

Degree of depression and endocrine disorders predict sexual dysfunction in women

Professionals must be
able and willing to engage in frank discussion of sexuality post-TBI and have some familiarity with treatment approaches and resources to address these problems.