Peer-reviewedCC BYCase reports in psychiatry
When You Hear Hoofbeats, It May Still Be the Medication: A Case of Aripiprazole-Induced Hypersexuality Masquerading as Psychiatric Decompensation.
- 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Morehouse School of Medicine Atlanta Georgia USA msm.edu.
- 2Behavioral Health Clinic Grady Memorial Hospital Atlanta Georgia USA gradymem.org.
Abstract
Aripiprazole has a known association with impulse-control disorders (ICDs), yet these adverse effects are frequently underrecognized and misattributed to psychiatric decompensation, particularly in women. We report a case of a 27-year-old African American woman with schizoaffective disorder who developed marked, new-onset hypersexual behavior temporally associated with aripiprazole. Aripiprazole accounts for a majority of ICDs reported among this class of antipsychotics, likely due to its D2/D3 partial agonism. This case highlights the critical need for clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for medication-induced ICDs when patients develop new impulsive or compulsive behaviors.
Related
- A Gallstone Masquerading as Hepatic Decompensation: A Case of Bouveret Syndrome.
- The Effect of Psychiatric Medication Use on 1- to 3-Level Elective Lumbar Fusion Outcomes
- The Association of Medication Adherence and Disability among Inpatients Admitted through Psychiatric Emergencies: A Cross-sectional Study
- Pathways to medication adherence: a configurational analysis of psychiatric symptoms and medication attitude in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder receiving long-acting injectable antipsychotics.
- Association Between Beliefs Toward Mental Disorders and Negative Attitudes Toward Psychiatric Medication in Teachers
BibTeX
@article{cudjoe2026when,
title = {{When You Hear Hoofbeats, It May Still Be the Medication: A Case of Aripiprazole-Induced Hypersexuality Masquerading as Psychiatric Decompensation.}},
author = {Nana Cudjoe and Terrance C Jenkins and Brittany Stallworth and Cansery Kathomi Mwai and Alainia Morgan},
journal = {Case reports in psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1155/crps/2595434},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928885},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - When You Hear Hoofbeats, It May Still Be the Medication: A Case of Aripiprazole-Induced Hypersexuality Masquerading as Psychiatric Decompensation.
AU - Nana Cudjoe
AU - Terrance C Jenkins
AU - Brittany Stallworth
AU - Cansery Kathomi Mwai
AU - Alainia Morgan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
JO - Case reports in psychiatry
DO - 10.1155/crps/2595434
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928885
AB - Aripiprazole has a known association with impulse-control disorders (ICDs), yet these adverse effects are frequently underrecognized and misattributed to psychiatric decompensation, particularly in women. We report a case of a 27-year-old African American woman with schizoaffective disorder who developed marked, new-onset hypersexual behavior temporally associated with aripiprazole. Aripiprazole accounts for a majority of ICDs reported among this class of antipsychotics, likely due to its D2/D3 partial agonism. This case highlights the critical need for clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for medication-induced ICDs when patients develop new impulsive or compulsive behaviors.
SN - 2090-682X
SN - 2090-6838
ER -