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Sex therapy outcome research: a reappraisal of methodology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

J. Bancroft ,
M. Dickerson ,
C. G. Fairburn ,
J. Gray ,
J. Greenwood ,
N. Stevenson  and
P. Warner
J. Bancroft*
Affiliation:
MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh
M. Dickerson
Affiliation:
MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh
C. G. Fairburn
Affiliation:
MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh
J. Gray
Affiliation:
MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh
J. Greenwood
Affiliation:
MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh
N. Stevenson
Affiliation:
MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh
P. Warner
Affiliation:
MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr J. Bancroft, MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, 37 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh EH3 9EW.
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Synopsis

In the first section a controlled treatment study of male sexual dysfunction is described. ‘Unlucky’ randomization of subjects yielded treatment groups which differed with respect to variables of possible prognostic significance. Hence the results are largely uninterpretable.

In the second section the predominantly negative or inconsistent findings in sex therapy outcome research are reviewed and methodological problems, such as those described in the first part, are considered as possible reasons for these negative findings. The interrelationships are explored between (i) small treatment groups, (ii) prognostic variability, (iii) bias, (iv) power, and (v) small expected treatment effects. A strategy for future research is proposed, with particular emphasis on the recognition and use of relevant prognostic indices.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , November 1986 , pp. 851 - 863
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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