• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.271-275
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• 2001

Hyposexuality after stroke has been frequently observed, but hypersexuality as a sequela of stroke has not been commonly documented. We report a patient who exhibited hypersexuality and obsessive-compulsive behaviors after stroke in the region of the left mesial frontal cortex and both basal ganglia. At 2 months after stroke, he visited psychiatric unit due to these symptoms. His motor function was almost full recovered. He was treated with fluvoxamine and perphenazine. With two-month medication, his hypersexuality and obsessive-compulsive behavior disappeared. This case may indicate that basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit plays an important role in the mediation of sexual behavior and obsessive-compulsive behavior. Since changes in sexual activity may not be spontaneously reported, a systemic inquiry into patient's sexual functioning after infarction in frontal lobe or basal ganglia is warranted.