Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sex between psychiatric inpatients

  • Articles
  • Published:
Psychiatric Quarterly Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This report reviews the literature on the subject of sexual activity between psychiatric inpatients. The author discusses the psychological reasons why patients engage in sexual activity as well as the possible psychological effects. In addition, the author discusses medical considerations including concerns about injury, pregnancy, and venereal disease and legal implications including issues related to wrongful life, wrongful birth and deteriorating mental condition resulting from sexual activity. The report also discusses ethical issues, staff attitudes and various options for management of sexual activity between patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Modestin J: Patterns of overt sexual interaction among acute psychiatric inpatients.Acta Psychiat Scand 64:446–459, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  2. Akhtar S, Crocker E, Dickey N,et al.: Overt sexual behavior among psychiatric inpatients.Diseases of the Nervous System 38:359–361, 1977

    Google Scholar 

  3. Keitner D, Grof P: Sexual and emotional intimacy between psychiatric inpatients: formulating a policy.Hosp and Comm Psychiatry 32:188–193, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hartocollis P: Hospital romances: some vicissitudes of transference.Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic 28:62–71, 1964

    Google Scholar 

  5. Morgan R, Rogers J: Some results of the policy of integrating men and women patients in a mental hospital.Social Psychiatry 6:113–116, 1971

    Google Scholar 

  6. Easson WM: Adolescent inpatients in love: a therapeutic contradiction.Arch Gen Psychiatry 16:758–763, 1967

    Google Scholar 

  7. Levy J, Trossman B, Kravitz H,et al.: Inpatients in love: conjoint therapy of two adolescents.Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal 18:435–438, 1973

    Google Scholar 

  8. Pinderhughes CA, Grace EB, Reyna LJ: Psychiatric disorders and sexual functioning.Am J Psychiatry 128:1276–1283, 1972

    Google Scholar 

  9. Abernethy V: Sexual knowledge, attitudes, and practices of young female psychiatric patients.Arch Gen Psychiatry 30:180–182, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wignall CM, Meredith CE: Illegitimate pregnancies in state institutions.Arch Gen Psychiatry 18:580–583, 1968

    Google Scholar 

  11. Foy v Greenblott 141 Cal App 3d 1 (Cal Rptr Mar 1983)

  12. MW v Jewish Hospital Association of St. Louis 44197, Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, Division One, Sept 13, 1982 (637 S.W. 2d 74 Mo App 1982)

  13. Richmond JB:Health Effects of the Pregnancy Use of Diethylstilbestrol. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Physician Advisory, October 4, 1978

  14. Withersty DJ: Sexual attitudes of hospital personnel: a model for continuing education.Am J Psychiatry 133:573–575, 1976

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, San Francisco

    Renée L. Binder M.D. (director of the Crisis Intervention Unit at Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry)

Authors
  1. Renée L. Binder M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Binder, R.L. Sex between psychiatric inpatients. Psych Quart 57, 121–126 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064330

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064330

Keywords

Search

Navigation