A randomized trial comparing group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy with group supportive sex education and therapy for the treatment of female sexual interest/arousal disorder.
- 1 July 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
- Vol. 89 (7), 626-639
- https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000661
Abstract
Objective: Sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD) is the most prevalent sexual dysfunction in women. Our goal was to compare (a) group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) plus sex education with (b) group supportive sex education and therapy (STEP) for women with SIAD. Method: Eight-session treatments were delivered weekly and participants completed the measures of sexual desire and arousal, sexual distress, relationship satisfaction, rumination, and global impressions of change, at baseline, immediately posttreatment, and at 6- and 12-month posttreatment. Of 148 women who consented, 70 were randomized to MBCT (mean age 39.3 +/- 13.2 years) and 78 were randomized to STEP (mean age 37.9 +/- 12.2 years). Results: Sexual desire and arousal significantly improved at each time point relative to baseline, with large effect sizes (d = -1.29 to -1.60), and similarly for MBCT and STEP. Sexual distress also improved at each time point with large effect sizes (d = 0.83-1.17), and more so for MBCT relative to STEP. Relationship satisfaction significantly improved (d = -0.17 to -0.20), and rumination about sex improved significantly in both arms, with medium effect sizes (d = 0.42-0.69), with both outcomes responding more to MBCT. About half the participants across both treatments reported moderate or great improvements in global indicators of desire and overall sexuality. Conclusions: Results support the efficacy of both group MBCT and group supportive sex education for improving symptoms of SIAD with 12-month retention of improvements.Keywords
Funding Information
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP-136876)
This publication has 39 references indexed in Scilit:
- Predictors of Women’s Sexual Desire: The Role of Psychopathology, Cognitive-Emotional Determinants, Relationship Dimensions, and Medical FactorsThe Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2010
- Determinants of Sexual Desire Problems in Women: Testing a Cognitive-Emotional ModelJournal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 2009
- Holding onto womanhood: a qualitative study of heterosexual women with sexual desire lossHealth: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine, 2009
- A randomized clinical trial for women with vulvodynia: Cognitive-behavioral therapy vs. supportive psychotherapyPain, 2009
- A Mindfulness-Based Group Psychoeducational Intervention Targeting Sexual Arousal Disorder in WomenThe Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2008
- Validation of the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised for Assessing Distress in Women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire DisorderThe Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2008
- Attention and Emotional Responses to Sexual Stimuli and Their Relationship to Sexual DesireArchives of Sexual Behavior, 2007
- A Psychoeducational Intervention for Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Gynecologic CancerArchives of Sexual Behavior, 2007
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing RelapsePsychotherapy Research, 2003
- The mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy adherence scale: inter‐rater reliability, adherence to protocol and treatment distinctivenessClinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 2002