A randomized controlled trial of online mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral interventions for sexual interest/arousal disorder in women: eSense

IF 4.2 2区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Behaviour Research and Therapy Pub Date : 2025-03-20 DOI:10.1016/j.brat.2025.104732

Elizabeth A. Mahar , Kyle R. Stephenson , Lori A. Brotto

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD) is a common and distressing sexual dysfunction in women. Although efficacious psychological treatments for SIAD exist, they are generally underutilized and inaccessible. eSense is a feasible and useable online intervention containing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT) programs. Our goal was to test the efficacy of the CBT and MBT arms of eSense relative to a waitlist control condition.

Method

Women with SIAD were randomized to eSense-CBT (n = 43), eSense-MBT (n = 43), or a waitlist (n = 43). Both interventions consisted of 8 modules with a recommended completion time of 8–12 weeks. Participants also met remotely with non-expert “navigators” for up to 12 weeks. Participants completed validated self-report measures of primary outcomes (sexual desire/arousal and distress) and secondary outcomes (sexual satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and overall sexual function) at baseline, mid-treatment, posttreatment, and 6-month posttreatment.

Results and conclusions

Compared to waitlist, both active treatment groups reported significant improvements in primary outcomes at post-treatment (desire/arousal d > .90; sexual distress d < −0.62) and these improvements were generally maintained at follow-up. The two active treatments did not differ in terms of primary outcomes. Effects on sexual satisfaction were also significant (d = 0.70–0.81) and MBT resulted in slightly greater improvements. There was no effect on sexual dissatisfaction. For overall sexual function, the effect was large (d = 1.20 to 1.23) with no between-arm differences. Future steps to improve engagement and increase access are discussed. Keywords: digital health; sexual interest/arousal disorder; mindfulness-based therapy; cognitive behavioral therapy; sexual dysfunction. Public health significance: This study strongly suggests that eSense is an efficacious digital health tool that holds much potential to improve accessibility for the treatment of SIAD.

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来源期刊

Behaviour Research and Therapy PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

7.30%

发文量

148

期刊介绍： The major focus of Behaviour Research and Therapy is an experimental psychopathology approach to understanding emotional and behavioral disorders and their prevention and treatment, using cognitive, behavioral, and psychophysiological (including neural) methods and models. This includes laboratory-based experimental studies with healthy, at risk and subclinical individuals that inform clinical application as well as studies with clinically severe samples. The following types of submissions are encouraged: theoretical reviews of mechanisms that contribute to psychopathology and that offer new treatment targets; tests of novel, mechanistically focused psychological interventions, especially ones that include theory-driven or experimentally-derived predictors, moderators and mediators; and innovations in dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices into clinical practice in psychology and associated fields, especially those that target underlying mechanisms or focus on novel approaches to treatment delivery. In addition to traditional psychological disorders, the scope of the journal includes behavioural medicine (e.g., chronic pain). The journal will not consider manuscripts dealing primarily with measurement, psychometric analyses, and personality assessment.