SEXUAL DISORDERS IN HUNTINGTONS-DISEASE

This study assessed the frequency and type of sexual disorders associa ted with Huntington's disease (HD) in an unbiased sample. Of 39 HD pat ients and 32 of their partners, 82% and 66%, respectively, had one or more sexual disorders by DSM-III-R criteria. The most frequent for bot h groups was hypoactive sexual disorder. Significantly more patients w ho had both inhibited orgasm and increased sexual interest also had pa raphilic disorders. Findings support the hypotheses that sexual disord ers are frequent among HD patients and their partners and that sexual disorders among HD patients may take the form of increased sexual inte rest or paraphilias. The association between inhibited orgasm, increas ed sexual interest, and paraphilic disorders will require further inve stigation but suggests a possible etiology for some paraphilias.