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Abstract
For many individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), the Internet is the only available source of information regarding their sexual problems following TBI. This study aimed to evaluate the content and the quality of patient or carer information that is readily available on the Internet about specific aspects of sexuality after TBI. A purposive (non-exhaustive) sample of eight leaflets available on the Internet related to sexuality following TBI was analysed using content analysis. Decreased desire was reported as the main sexual difficulty following TBI (87.5%), followed by inappropriate sexual behaviour (62.5%). Among the strategies to overcome these difficulties, all leaflets recommended seeking help from healthcare professionals; 42.8% were centred on the carer or the family, and only 28.5% was directly addressed to the individual with TBI. The information available overemphasises disinhibition, underscores other aspects of sexuality (e.g. sexual risk and inability to fantasise), and is conceived mainly for carers and families. A bias assuming that most individuals with TBI are involved in a romantic relationship was also present. Adolescents, women, older people, single people, and non-heterosexual individuals were not adequately represented. There is a need for Internet resources to provide specific recommendations for these groups.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Jhon Alexander Moreno
Alexander Moreno is a psychologist/neuropsychologist member of the Order of Psychologists of Quebec in Canada. He conducted his doctoral research about sexuality and traumatic brain injury in the Department of Psychology at the University of Montreal in Canada. He has an extensive background in the area of assessment and diagnosis of individuals with neurological disorders. He has authored over 15 peer-reviewed scientific and review articles in both English and Spanish in the areas of neuropsychology, health psychology, sexuality, and rehabilitation.
Roshan das Nair
Roshan das Nair is a consultant clinical psychologist and honorary associate professor. He specialises in sexual health and neuropsychology, with a special interest in rehabilitation in neurological conditions. He is an experienced mixed-methods trialist and has authored several papers in peer-reviewed journals and books. His co-edited book, Intersectionality, Sexuality, & Psychological Therapies: Exploring Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Diversity was published in 2012 by BPS-Blackwell.