The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which people with mild stroke experience changes in participation in sexual activity post stroke. A cross-sectional study was completed with adults 6 to 18 months post mild stroke (N = 13); a brief case study was also done with one of the participants. Participants completed an assessment battery over the telephone that included the modified Quality of Sexual Function scale, the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The sample reported mild problems with sexual dysfunction (mean = 10.77, SD = 4.09). Sexual dysfunction post stroke was highly correlated (r = −0.372 to −0.875) with all of the domains on the SIS. Several participants in this study reported that they would have liked more information about sexual functioning post stroke. These findings suggest that individuals with mild stroke are experiencing decreased participation in sexual activities post stroke and would like more information from the health care community on the potential for sexual changes.
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2008). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (2nd ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 625–683.
2.
BrottT.AdamsH.P.Jr.OlingerC.P.MarlerJ.R.BarsanW.G.BillerJ.HertzbergV. (1989). Measurements of acute cerebral infarction: A clinical examination scale. Stroke, 20, 864–870.
3.
Choi-KwonS., & KimJ.S. (2002). Poststroke emotional incontinence and decreased sexual activity. Cerebrovascular Diseases, 13, 31–37.
4.
DavisonS.L.BellR.J.LaChinaM.HoldenS.L., & DavisS.R. (2009). The relationship between self-reported sexual satisfaction and general well-being in women. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6, 2690–2697. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01406.x.
5.
DuitsA.van OirschotN.van OostenbruggeR. J., & van LankveldJ. (2009). The relevance of sexual responsiveness to sexual function in male stroke patients. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6, 3320–3326. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01419.x.
6.
DuncanP.W.WallaceD.LaiS.M.JohnsonD.EmbretsonS., & LasterL.J. (1999). The Stroke Impact Scale version 2.0. Evaluation of reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change. Stroke, 30, 2131–2140.
7.
EdwardsD.F.HahnM.BaumC., & DromerickA.W. (2006). The impact of mild stroke on meaningful activity and life satisfaction. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 15, 151–157.
8.
El HusseiniN.GoldsteinL.B.PetersonE.D.ZhaoX.PanW.OlsonD.M.LaskowitzD.T. (2012). Depression and antidepressant use after stroke and transient ischemic attack. Stroke, 43, 1609–1616. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.643130.
9.
GiaquintoS.BuzzelliS.FrancescoL.D., & NolfeG. (2003). Evaluation of sexual changes after stroke. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64, 302–307.
10.
GreenT.L., & KingK.M. (2010). Functional and psychosocial outcomes one year after mild stroke. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 19, 10–16. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2009.02.005.
11.
HeinemannL.A.J.PotthoffP.HeinemannK.PaulsA.AhlersC.J., & SaadF. (2005). Scale for Quality of Sexual Function (QSF) as an outcome measure for both genders?Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2, 82–95.
12.
JungJ.H.KamS.C.ChoiS.M.JaeS.U.LeeS.H., & HyunJ.S. (2008). Sexual dysfunction in male stroke patients: Correlation between brain lesions and sexual function. Urology, 71, 99–103. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2007.08.045.
13.
KimuraM.MurataY.ShimodaK., & RobinsonR.G. (2001). Sexual dysfunction following stroke. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 42, 217–222.
14.
KorpelainenJ.T.NieminenP., & MyllyläV.V. (1999). Sexual functioning among stroke patients and their spouses. Stroke, 30, 715–719.
15.
KroenkeK.SpitzerR.L., & WilliamsJ.B. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16, 606–613.
16.
LaurentS.M., & SimonsA.D. (2009). Sexual dysfunction in depression and anxiety: Conceptualizing sexual dysfunction as part of an internalizing dimension. Clinical Psychology Review, 29, 573–585. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.06.007.
17.
OstwaldS.K.GodwinK.M., & CronS.G. (2009). Predictors of life satisfaction in stroke survivors and spousal caregivers twelve to twenty-four months post discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Nursing, 34, 160–174.
18.
Pinto-MezaA.Serrano-BlancoA.PeñarrubiaM.T.BlancoE., & HaroJ.M. (2005). Assessing depression in primary care with the PHQ-9: Can it be carried out over the telephone?Journal of General Internal Medicine, 20, 738–742.
19.
RochetteA.DesrosiersJ.BravoG.St-Cyr-TribbleD., & BourgetA. (2007). Changes in participation after a mild stroke: Quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 14, 59–68.
20.
RogerV.L.GoA.S.Lloyd-JonesD.M.AdamsR.J.BerryJ.D.BrownT.M.Wylie-RosettJ. (2011). Heart disease and stroke statistics—2011 update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 123, e18–e209. doi:10.1161/CIR.0b013e3182009701.
21.
RosenR.C., & BachmannG.A. (2008). Sexual well-being, happiness, and satisfaction, in women: The case for a new conceptual paradigm. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 34, 291–297. doi:10.1080/00926230802096234.
22.
SchmitzM.A., & FinkelsteinM. (2010). Perspectives on post-stroke sexual issues and rehabilitation needs. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 17, 204–213. doi:10.1310/tsr1703-204.
23.
TamamY.TamamL.AkilE.YasanA., & TamamB. (2008). Post-stroke sexual functioning in first stroke patients. European Journal of Neurology, 15, 660–666. doi:10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02184.x.
24.
TanH.M.TongS.F., & HoC.C. (2012). Men's health: Sexual dysfunction, physical, and psychological health—Is there a link?Journal of Sexual Medicine, 9, 663–671. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02582.x.
25.
TellierM., & RochetteA. (2009). Falling through the cracks: A literature review to understand the reality of mild stroke survivors. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 16, 454–462. doi:10.1310/tsr1606-454.
26.
WolfT.BarbeeA., & WhiteD. (2012). Article 15 executive dysfunction immediately post mild-stroke. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 93, e11. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2012.08.020.
27.
WolfT.J.BaumC., & ConnorL.T. (2009). Changing face of stroke: Implications for occupational therapy practice. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 621–625.
