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Impact of hypersexuality on spousal carers of patients with Parkinson’s disease and frontotemporal dementia: a qualitative study
Natalie Tayim, Jalesh N. Panicker, Jennifer A. Foley, Caroline E. Selai, Walaa G. El Sheikh. BMJ Open, 2025-04-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The thematic analysis identified 12 themes: manifestations, sexual practices, impact, control, emotional formulations, beliefs in causes of hypersexuality and attributions, relationship with the partner, dealing with hypersexuality, coping with hypersexuality, self-image, stigma and professional help-seeking. Hypersexuality altered patients' sexual cognitions and behaviours, causing distress and strain on carers' mental health and marital life. Carers struggled to cope with their partners' hypersexuality, facing emotional burden and barriers to seeking professional help. Hypersexuality significantly impacts spousal carers of patients with PD and dementia, affecting their emotional well-being and relationships. Healthcare professionals should recognise and address hypersexuality's psychological and relational consequences. Psychoeducation, support groups and tailored interventions for patients and carers are recommended to alleviate emotional distress. Future research should explore the broader familial impact of hypersexuality and develop effective management strategies.
Key findings
- The thematic analysis identified 12 themes: manifestations, sexual practices, impact, control, emotional formulations, beliefs in causes of hypersexuality and attributions, relationship with the partner, dealing with hypersexuality, coping with hypersexuality, self-image, stigma and professional help-seeking.
- Hypersexuality altered patients' sexual cognitions and behaviours, causing distress and strain on carers' mental health and marital life.
- Carers struggled to cope with their partners' hypersexuality, facing emotional burden and barriers to seeking professional help.
- Hypersexuality significantly impacts spousal carers of patients with PD and dementia, affecting their emotional well-being and relationships.
- Healthcare professionals should recognise and address hypersexuality's psychological and relational consequences.
Why it matters
This qualitative study found that hypersexuality in Parkinson's disease and frontotemporal dementia causes distress and strain on carers' mental health and marital life, and that carers face barriers to seeking professional help. It suggests that healthcare professionals should recognise these psychological and relational consequences and that psychoeducation, support groups and tailored interventions are recommended to alleviate emotional distress.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (BMJ Open) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | BMJ Open: journal h-index 240 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Walaa G. El Sheikh: h-index 6 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40216419) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Tayim, N., Panicker, J. N., Foley, J. A., Selai, C. E., & El Sheikh, W. G. (2025). Impact of hypersexuality on spousal carers of patients with Parkinson’s disease and frontotemporal dementia: a qualitative study. BMJ Open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090870
Vancouver
Tayim N, Panicker JN, Foley JA, Selai CE, El Sheikh WG. Impact of hypersexuality on spousal carers of patients with Parkinson’s disease and frontotemporal dementia: a qualitative study. BMJ Open. 2025. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090870. PMID: 40216419.
BibTeX
@article{tayim2025-40216419,
author = {Tayim, Natalie and Panicker, Jalesh N. and Foley, Jennifer A. and Selai, Caroline E. and El Sheikh, Walaa G.},
title = {{Impact of hypersexuality on spousal carers of patients with Parkinson’s disease and frontotemporal dementia: a qualitative study}},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090870},
pmid = {40216419},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090870}
}
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