Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40292929›Full record

SynthesisJournal of the American Geriatrics Society2025

Treatment of Inappropriate Sexual Behavior in Persons With Dementia: A Systematic Review.

Natasha E Lane, Manan Ahuja, Stacey Hatch, Dallas P Seitz, Jessie McGowan, Jennifer A Watt

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Natasha E LaneDivision of Geriatric Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-1400-9068
Manan AhujaDivision of Geriatric Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-8954-8325
Stacey HatchDepartment of Psychiatry and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Dallas P SeitzDepartment of Psychiatry and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jessie McGowanSchool of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Jennifer A WattDivision of Geriatric Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5296-6013

Funding

Canadian Coalition for Senior's Mental HealthCIHR 190440Public Health Agency of Canada
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInappropriate sexual behavior (ISB), such as sexual touching and sexual exposure, occurs in up to 25% of people with dementia. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions to manage ISB in persons with dementia.

methodsSystematic review without meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42023469625). We searched MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, Embase, JBI EBP Database, CENTRAL, CDSR, and Ageline databases, with no limits on study date or language, from inception until September 8, 2023. All study designs were eligible for inclusion if they examined the effectiveness of any pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic intervention in adults with dementia and ISB. Two reviewers independently completed all study screening, data abstraction, and risk of bias assessments. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to determine the quality of case studies and case series, and the Cochrane RoB 2 was used to appraise the one randomized controlled trial. Findings were synthesized using vote counting based on the direction of effect.

resultsWe included 74 studies, of which 60 were case studies, 13 were case series, and one was a randomized trial. Most studies (64%) reported exclusively pharmacologic interventions. Non-pharmacologic interventions (e.g., distraction, environmental modification) were associated with improvement or resolution of ISB in 33 (72%) instances; however, only five (21%) cases improved or resolved without co-prescribed pharmacotherapy. Among men, hormonal treatments, including progestins and anti-androgens, led to a reduction in ISBs more frequently than antipsychotics, antidepressants, or anticonvulsants.

conclusionsNonpharmacologic interventions can be effective at reducing ISB, though pharmacologic interventions are also frequently needed. Randomized trials of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic intervention effectiveness and safety are needed to guide practice.

Indexed as

DementiaSexual BehaviorAgedFemaleHumansMalebehavioral disinhibitionBPSDdementiasexual behavior

Identifiers

PMID40292929
PMCPMC12396162

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.