Sexuality following trauma injury: A literature review.
Restoration of the quality of life (QoL) of trauma injury survivors is the aim of trauma rehabilitation. It is generally acknowledged that sexuality is an important component of QoL; however, rehabilitation services frequently fall short of including sexuality as a matter of routine. The literature was reviewed to examine the experiences of trauma survivors from three groups: spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and burns. The focus was on the impact of trauma on the QoL to identify future research directions and to advocate for the inclusion of sexuality as an integral part of rehabilitation. Databases searched were Proquest, Ovid, Cinahl, Medline, PsycInfo and Cochrane Central Register of controlled trials. A total of 36 eligible studies were included: SCI (n = 25), TBI (n = 6), burns (n = 5). Four themes were identified across the three trauma groups that were labeled as physiological impact of trauma on sexuality, cognitive-genital dissociation (CGD), sexual disenfranchisement (SD) and sexual rediscovery (SR). Trauma injury has a significant impact on sexuality, which is not routinely addressed within rehabilitation services. Further sexuality research is required among all trauma groups to improve rehabilitation services and in turn QoL outcomes for all trauma survivors.
Department of Sexology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia Australia ; Fiona Wood Foundation, Perth, Western Australia Australia ; Royal Perth Hospital, Burns Service of Western Australia, Western Australia Australia.
Kylie Marie
KM
Connell
Department of Sexology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia Australia.
Rosemary
R
Coates
Fiona Wood Foundation, Perth, Western Australia Australia ; Royal Perth Hospital, Burns Service of Western Australia, Western Australia Australia ; Burn Injury Research Unit, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia Australia.
Fiona Melanie
FM
Wood
Burns; rehabilitation; sexuality; spinal cord injury; traumatic brain injury