title: Pilot study of a brief cognitive behavioral versus mindfulness-based intervention for women with sexual distress and a history of childhood sexual abuse.
abstract: Although sexual difficulties related to a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are common, there are no efficacious treatments to address sexual distress. Recent evidence for the benefits of mindfulness, which emphasizes present-moment non-judgmental awareness, in the treatment of women's sexual concerns provided the impetus for this pilot study. Twenty partnered women with sexual difficulties and significant sexual distress, and a history of CSA were randomized to two sessions of either a cognitive behavioral (CBT, n = 8) or mindfulness-based (MBT, n = 12) group treatment (age: M = 35.8 years, range: 22-54 years). Hierarchical Linear Modeling to assess changes in concordance between laboratory-based subjective and genital sexual arousal revealed a significant effect of MBT on concordance such that women in the MBT group experienced a significantly greater subjective sexual arousal response to the same level of genital arousal compared to the CBT group and to pre-treatment. Both groups also experienced a significant decrease in sexual distress. These data support the further study of mindfulness-based approaches in the treatment of sexual difficulties characterized by a disconnection between genital and subjective sexual response.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. lori.brotto@vch.ca
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Brotto
authors.forename: Brooke N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Seal
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rellini
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health