RESUMO
Patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) suffer from inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Clinicians often assume that the specific difficulties associated with ADHD are bound to affect sexual behaviors, and favor risky sexual behaviors, thereby increasing the frequency of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This review provides an up-to-date synthesis of the literature concerning STDs in patients with ADHD. A systematic review of the literature was performed using the PubMed, PsychInfo, and Embase databases, with STDs as the main outcome measure. Patients with ADHD report more STDs than the general population. Results are limited by the small number of existing studies, as well as the heterogeneity of the outcome measures. Findings from this first systematic review of data on STDs in individuals with ADHD suggest that ADHD affects sexual health and sexual behaviors. Clinicians treating patients with ADHD should explore risky sexual behaviors in their patients and raise awareness about the risk of contracting STDs. Further studies are warranted to better evaluate the risk of contracting an STD in patients with ADHD.
Assuntos
Transtorno do Deficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade , Comportamento Sexual , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis , Humanos , Assunção de Riscos , ComorbidadeRESUMO
Subjects with ADHD suffer from inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Clinicians often assume that specific symptoms of ADHD are bound to affect sexual desire by increasing the frequency of hypersexuality. There is a lack of knowledge about the comorbidity between ADHD, hypersexuality, and paraphilias. The aim of this article was to provide a review of the literature on the association of ADHD and hypersexuality and paraphilias and to discuss the screening and the management of these syndromes when associated with ADHD. A systematic review of the literature was performed in PubMed, PsychInfo, and Embase databases. The studies reviewed show that some individuals who suffer from ADHD report hypersexuality and paraphilias, but no clear data emerged supporting the idea that hypersexuality and paraphilias are more frequent in an ADHD population. On the other hand, some studies showed a high prevalence of ADHD in hypersexual and paraphilic subjects. This is the first systematic review of hypersexuality and paraphilias in individuals with ADHD. However, the results are limited by differences in the methodology and measurement instruments for hypersexuality and paraphilias as well as by the small number of studies and the small sample sizes of many studies.
Assuntos
Transtorno do Deficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade/epidemiologia , Transtorno do Deficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade/psicologia , Transtornos Parafílicos/epidemiologia , Transtornos Parafílicos/psicologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Transtorno do Deficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade/diagnóstico , Ensaios Clínicos como Assunto/métodos , Comorbidade , Comportamento Compulsivo/diagnóstico , Comportamento Compulsivo/epidemiologia , Comportamento Compulsivo/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Comportamento Impulsivo/fisiologia , Masculino , Transtornos Parafílicos/diagnóstico , PrevalênciaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The scientific literature on sexuality among mentally ill patients clearly shows a higher prevalence of sexual disorders for many mental disorders, but little is known about sexuality in individuals suffering from ADHD. Clinicians will often assume that specific difficulties of ADHD are bound to affect sexual functioning. AIM: The aim of this study was to provide a review of the literature to gain better knowledge about sexuality in subjects with ADHD and to discuss screening and management of their potential sexual problems. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed in Pubmed, PsychInfo, and Embase databases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were sexual function and sexual dysfunctions. RESULTS: The studies indicated that subjects with ADHD report more sexual desire, more masturbation frequency, less sexual satisfaction, and more sexual dysfunctions than the general population. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians working with subjects with ADHD should explore the quality of their sexual life. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: This is the first systematic review of the sexuality of individuals with ADHD. However, the results are limited by the small number of studies, by the small sample size of many studies, and the potential for bias. CONCLUSIONS: ADHD is a mental disorder affecting sexual health. Further studies are warranted to learn more about sexuality in subjects with ADHD. Soldati L, Bianchi-Demicheli F, Schockaert P, et al. Sexual Function, Sexual Dysfunctions, and ADHD: A Systematic Literature Review. J Sex Med 2020;17:1653-1664.