Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T18:00:31.171Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions by Sex Therapy and Other Approaches

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Keith Hawton
Keith Hawton*
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

The treatment of sexual dysfunctions underwent a great change when sex therapy was developed more than 25 years ago. Since then the treatment programme has been modified in various ways, the response to treatment evaluated and other treatment approaches introduced.

Method

A review of the literature concerning the application and outcome of sex therapy and other treatments for sexual dysfunction was conducted.

Results

The format of effective conjoint sex therapy is now fairly clear and there is good understanding of the sexual dysfunctions that respond best to this treatment and the couples most likely to benefit. Less is known about the effects of treatment of individuals without partners, bibliotherapy and combining sex therapy with marital therapy and with physical methods of treatment.

Conclusions

Sex therapy is now a well-established form of treatment. It should be more widely available for patients seen in psychiatry departments.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 3 , September 1995 , pp. 307 - 314
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Althof, S. E. & Turner, L. A. (1992) Self-injection therapy and external vacuum devices in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: methods and outcome. In Erectile Disorders: Assessment and Treatment (eds R. C. Rosen & S. Leiblum), pp. 283–309. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Bancroft, J. (1989) Human Sexuality and its Problems (2nd edn.) Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.Google Scholar
Bancroft, J. & Coles, L. (1976) Three years' experience in a sexual problems clinic. British Medical Journal, i, 1575–1577.10.1136/bmj.1.6025.1575Google Scholar
Bancroft, J., Dickerson, M., Fairburn, C. G., et al (1986) Sex therapy outcome research: a re-appraisal of methodology. Psychological Medicine, 16, 851–863.10.1017/S0033291700011867Google Scholar
Carney, A., Bancroft, J. & Mathews, A. (1978) Combination of hormonal and psychological treatment for female sexual unresponsiveness: a comparative study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 132, 339–346.10.1192/bjp.133.4.339Google Scholar
Catalan, J., Hawton, K. & Day, A. (1990) Couples referred to a sexual dysfunction clinic: psychological and physical morbidity. British Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 61–67.10.1192/bjp.156.1.61Google Scholar
Catalan, J., Hawton, K. & Day, A. (1991) Individuals presenting without partners at a sexual dysfunction clinic: psychological and physical morbidity and treatment offered. Sexual and Marital Therapy, 6, 15–23.10.1080/02674659108408349Google Scholar
Clement, U. & Schmidt, G. (1983) The outcome of couple therapy for sexual dysfunctions using three different formats. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 9, 67–78.10.1080/00926238308405834Google Scholar
Cole, M. & Gregoire, A. (1993) The impotent man without a partner. In Impotence: an Integrated Approach to Clinical Practice (eds A. Gregoire & J. P. Pryor), pp. 215–227. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.Google Scholar
Crowe, M. J., Gillan, P. & Golombok, S. (1981) Form and content in the conjoint treatment of sexual dysfunction: a controlled study. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 19, 47–54.10.1016/0005-7967(81)90111-XGoogle Scholar
d'Ardenne, P. (1986) Sexual dysfunction in a transcultural setting: assessment, treatment and research. Sexual and Marital Therapy, 1, 23–34.10.1080/02674658608407676Google Scholar
Davidson, J. M. & Rosen, R. C. (1992) Hormonal determinants of erectile dysfunction. In Erectile Disorders: Assessment and Treatment (eds. R. C. Rosen & S. R. Leiblum), pp. 72–95. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
de Amicis, L. A.Goldberg, D. C.LoPiccolo, J., et al (1985) Clinical follow-up of couples treated for sexual dysfunction. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 14, 467–489.10.1007/BF01541749Google Scholar
Douglas, A. R., Matson, I. C. & Hunter, S. (1989) Sex therapy for women incestuously abused as children. Sexual and Marital Therapy, 4, 143–159.10.1080/02674658908408333Google Scholar
Dow, M. G. T. (1983) A Controlled Comparative Evaluation of Conjoint Counselling and Self-help Behavioural Treatment for Sexual Dysfunction. University of Glasgow, Ph.D. Thesis. (unpublished).Google Scholar
Dow, M. G. T. & Gallagher, J. (1989) A controlled study of combined hormonal and psychological treatment for sexual unresponsiveness in women. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 28, 201–212.10.1111/j.2044-8260.1989.tb01370.xGoogle Scholar
Duddle, C. M. & Ingram, A. (1980) Treating sexual dysfunction in couple groups. In Medical Sexology (eds R. Forleo & W. Pasini), pp. 598–605. North Holland: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Fahrner, E. M. (1987) Sexual dysfunction in male alcohol addicts: prevalence and treatment. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 3, 247–257.10.1007/BF01541612Google Scholar
Golden, J. S., Price, S., Heinrich, A. G. & Lobitz, W. C. (1978) Group vs. couple treatment of sexual dysfunctions. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 7, 593–602.10.1007/BF01541925Google Scholar
Gregoire, A. (1992). New treatments for erectile impotence. British Journal of Psychiatry, 160, 315–326.10.1192/bjp.160.3.315Google Scholar
Hartman, L. M. & Daly, E. M. (1983) Relationship factors in the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 21, 153–160.10.1016/0005-7967(83)90161-4Google Scholar
Hawton, K. (1980) Training in the management of psychosexual problems. Medical Education, 14, 214–218.10.1111/j.1365-2923.1980.tb02257.xGoogle Scholar
Hawton, K. (1985) Sex Therapy: a Practical Guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press.10.1093/med:psych/9780192614131.001.0001Google Scholar
Hawton, K. & Catalan, J. (1986) Prognostic factors in sex therapy. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 24, 377–385.10.1016/0005-7967(86)90002-1Google Scholar
Hawton, K. & Catalan, J.Martin, P. & Fagg, J. (1986) Long-term outcome of sex therapy. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 24, 665–675.10.1016/0005-7967(86)90062-8Google Scholar
Hawton, K.Catalan, J. & Fagg, J. (1991) Low sexual desire: sex therapy results and prognostic factors. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 29, 217–224.10.1016/0005-7967(91)90111-FGoogle Scholar
Hawton, K.Catalan, J. & Fagg, J. (1992) Sex therapy for erectile dysfunction: characteristics of couples, treatment outcome, and prognostic factors. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 21, 161–175.10.1007/BF01542591Google Scholar
Heiman, J. R. & LoPiccolo, J. (1983) Clinical outcome of sex therapy. Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 443–449.10.1001/archpsyc.1983.01790040097013Google Scholar
Jehu, D. (1988) Beyond Sexual Abuse: Therapy with Women who were Childhood Victims. Chichester: Wiley.Google Scholar
Kayata, L. & Szydlo, D. (1986) The treatment of sexual dysfunction in a mixed sex group: a new approach. Sexual and Marital Therapy, 1, 7–17.10.1080/02674658608407674Google Scholar
Leiblum, S. R. & Ersner Hershfield, R. (1977) Sexual enhancement groups for dysfunctional women: an evaluation. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 3, 139–152.10.1080/00926237708402979Google Scholar
Leiblum, S. R. & Rosen, R. C. (1988) Sexual Desire Disorders. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
LoPiccolo, J. & Lobitz, W. C. (1972) The role of masturbation in the treatment of orgasmic dysfunction. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2, 163–171.10.1007/BF01541865Google Scholar
LoPiccolo, J.Heiman, J. R., Hogan, D. R. & Roberts, C. W. (1985) Effectiveness of single therapists versus cotherapy teams in sex therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 287–294.10.1037/0022-006X.53.3.287Google Scholar
Masters, W. H. & Johnson, V. E. (1970) Human Sexual Inadequacy. Boston: Little, Brown.Google Scholar
Mathews, A., Bancroft, J., Whitehead, A.et al (1976) The behavioural treatment of sexual inadequacy: a comparative study. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 14, 427–436.10.1016/0005-7967(76)90089-9Google Scholar
Mathews, A., Whitehead, A. & Kellett, J. (1983) Psychological and hormonal factors in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction. Psychological Medicine, 13, 83–92.10.1017/S0033291700050091Google Scholar
O'Carroll, R. & Bancroft, J. (1984) Testosterone therapy for low sexual interest and erectile dysfunction in men: a controlled study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 146–151.10.1192/bjp.145.2.146Google Scholar
Reynolds, B. S., Cohen, B. D., Schochet, B. V., et al (1981) Dating skills training in the group treatment of erectile dysfunction for men without partners. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 7, 184–194.10.1080/00926238108405803Google Scholar
Schover, L. R. & LoPiccolo, J. (1982) Treatment effectiveness for dysfunctions of sexual desire. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 8, 179–197.10.1080/00926238208405821Google Scholar
Jensen, S. B. (1988) Sexuality and Chronic Illness: a Comprehensive Approach. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Sherwin, B. B., Gelfand, M. M. & Brender, W. (1985) Androgen enhances sexual motivation in females: a prospective, crossover study of sex steroid administration in the surgical menopause. Psychosomatic Medicine, 47, 339–351.10.1097/00006842-198507000-00004Google Scholar
Spence, S. H. (1991) Psychosexual Therapy: a Cognitive-Behavioural Approach. London: Chapman & Hall.10.1007/978-1-4899-3005-7Google Scholar
Trudel, G. & Laurin, F. (1988) The effects of bibliography on orgasmic dysfunction and couple interactions: an experimental study. Sexual and Marital Therapy, 3, 223–228.10.1080/02674658808407713Google Scholar
Whitehead, A. & Mathews, A. (1977) Attitude change during behavioural treatment of sexual inadequacy. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 16, 275–281.10.1111/j.2044-8260.1977.tb00229.xGoogle Scholar
Whitehead, A. & Mathews, A. (1986) Factors related to successful outcome in the treatment of sexually unresponsive women. Psychological Medicine, 16, 373–378.10.1017/S003329170000920XGoogle Scholar
Whitehead, A.Mathews, A. & Ramage, M. (1987) The treatment of sexually unresponsive women: a comparative evaluation. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 25, 195–205.10.1016/0005-7967(87)90046-5Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1992) The ICD–10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization.Google Scholar
Zeiss, R. A. (1978) Self-directed treatment for premature ejaculation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 1234–1241.10.1037/0022-006X.46.6.1234Google Scholar
Zilbergeld, B. (1975) Group treatment of sexual dysfunction in men without partners. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 1, 204–214.10.1080/00926237508405290Google Scholar
Zimmer, D. (1987) Does marital therapy enhance the effectiveness of treatment for sexual dysfunction? Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 13, 193–209.10.1080/00926238708403892Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.