Effect of citalopram in treating hypersexuality in an Alzheimer's disease case

Neurol Sci. 2008 Sep;29(4):269-70. doi: 10.1007/s10072-008-0979-1. Epub 2008 Sep 20.

Abstract

Hypersexuality in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been rarely investigated. Hypersexual behaviours should be classified as a sexual obsession and included in the "obsessive-compulsive disorder-like" spectrum. Hypersexuality has no proven treatment, although reports have described reductions of this behaviour using antiandrogen treatment, H2-receptor antagonists and antipsychotic drugs. Serotonin reuptake blockers seem to be effective in the treatment of sexual obsessions or compulsions and less on paraphilic disturbances. We present the case of a 54-year-old male patient with Alzheimer's disease with compulsive sexual behaviour as reported by his wife. A 18-FDG PET scan evidenced prevalent hypometabolism of the right hemisphere, congruent with neuropsychological evaluation. Donepezil, 10 mg per day, produced cognitive improvement but no effects on sexual behaviour. Therapy with SSRI was subsequently started (citalopram): after 60 days, the patient showed improvement in both the compulsive pursuit of sex acts and the level of frustration when refused.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / complications*
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Citalopram / administration & dosage*
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Disease Progression
  • Donepezil
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Indans / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / etiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Mood Disorders / etiology
  • Nootropic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / drug therapy
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / etiology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / physiopathology
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Sexual Behavior / drug effects
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / drug therapy*
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / etiology
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Indans
  • Nootropic Agents
  • Piperidines
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Citalopram
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Serotonin
  • Donepezil