Sexual dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.
Sexual dysfunction is one of the more disabling and poorly investigated aspects of PD. Several variables should be considered when evaluating sexual dysfunction in a disease in which physical, psychological, neurobiological and pharmacological features merge and are not easily distinguishable. Although sexual dysfunction is common in Parkinson's disease, the development of hypersexuality and aberrant sexual behaviour, probably due to dopamine replacement therapy, calls into question the role of dopamine in sexual behaviour. This paper reviews studies that have investigated sexual behaviour and dysfunction in PD patients, paying particular attention to the effect of dopamine replacement therapy.
Meco
Giuseppe
G
Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche, University of Rome La Sapienza, Roma, Italy. giuseppe.meco@uniroma1.it
Rubino
Alfonso
A
Caravona
Natalia
N
Valente
Marcella
M
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010262:Paraphilic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D004298:Dopamine