Development of an assessment measure for sexual disinhibition in dementia. (15th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chapman, Kimberly R.; Tremont, Geoffrey; Spitznagel, Mary Beth
• Is Part Of: International journal of geriatric psychiatry. Volume 36:Number 9(2021)
• Page Start: 1436
• Page End: 1449
• Publication Date: 2021-04-15
• Subjects: assessment -- dementia -- sexual disinhibition; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Geriatric Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.5552
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-6230

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Sexual disinhibition (SD), a neuropsychiatric symptom characterized by sexually inappropriate comments and/or behaviors, remains under identified in dementia, possibly due to a lack of standardized assessment methods. A recent systematic review of measures used to assess SD proposed four behavioral domains and identified the need for a population‐specific measure. The present study addressed this by examining the underlying factor structure of SD to create a new caregiver‐report measure. Methods: Dementia caregivers ( n = 622) recruited online were randomly assigned to Initial Validation ( n = 311) or Cross‐Validation ( n = 311) groups. Results: Initial Validation revealed five behavioral domains that served as provisional scales for cross‐validation, leading to measure development. Conclusions: The current study is the first to statistically evaluate the underlying factor structure of SD, resulting in a new measure that can help better characterize and identify SD. Key points: The overarching aim of the present study was to examine behavioral domains of, and develop a measure for, sexual disinhibition (SD; a problematic neuropsychiatric symptom) in dementia This study is the first to statistically evaluate behaviors associated with SD in dementia, identifying five behavioral domains that served as the basis for the development of a new caregiver‐report measure The new measure can be of immediate use to better characterize SD in dementia and to aid in supportive interventions