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Cognitive-Behavioural Couple Therapy for Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
Sponsor: Dalhousie University
Summary
Sexual health is a fundamental aspect of quality of life; a satisfying sexual relationship is linked to better physical, psychological, and relationship health and well-being. In fact, people who maintain a satisfying, active sex life over time live longer than those who report lower sexual frequency and satisfaction. Yet problems with sexual function are extremely common, especially for women: chronic difficulties with sexual desire and/or arousal that are personally upsetting-Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD)-affects 7% to 23% of the general population. SIAD is linked to more healthcare costs, depressive symptoms and anxiety, and lower relationship satisfaction. Experts suggest that relationship factors play a critical role in SIAD and couple-based sex therapy is a common approach used by clinicians. However, there are no treatment options available for couples that have been tested in research to confirm that they work. The goal of this three-centre randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a novel 16-session cognitive-behavioural couple therapy (CBCT), offered online to increase accessibility, for an inclusive sample of women with SIAD compared to a waitlist control group. The investigators expect that, compared to a waitlist control group, CBCT will lead to greater improvements in SIAD symptoms (e.g., higher sexual desire/arousal, lower sexual distress) and better sexual, relational, and psychological adjustment for both partners at post-treatment and 6-months later. Given that less than a third of those affected by SIAD access treatment, this study addresses the urgent need for an accessible couple-based treatment for the most common sexual dysfunction. Results will be used by clinicians to provide couples with a scientifically based, accessible treatment option, that will improve their sexual, relationship, and psychological health.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
170
Start Date
2025-01-07
Completion Date
2028-12-01
Last Updated
2025-02-12
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
The intervention will be delivered in 16, 60-minute sessions (1st session 90 mins). The treatment manual was informed by a 12-session (75 min each) CBCT developed by our team for genito-pelvic pain. The SIAD manual focuses on empirically supported interpersonal factors relevant to SIAD, informed by the Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Model of women's sexual dysfunction. The goals of the CBCT are to: (1) re-conceptualize low sexual desire/arousal as multidimensional in which both partners affect and are affected by the SIAD symptoms (2) modify and/or accept those factors that are associated with low sexual desire/arousal to increase adaptive coping, facilitate sexual desire/arousal, and reduce sexual distress, (3) as per our theoretical model, improve couple interactions related to sexuality (e.g., communication, intimacy) via enhanced emotion regulation, and (4) consolidate skills.
Locations (3)
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Université de Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada