title: A brief mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral intervention improves sexual functioning versus wait-list control in women treated for gynecologic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to evaluate a mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral intervention for sexual dysfunction in gynecologic cancer survivors compared to a wait-list control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one survivors of endometrial or cervical cancer (mean age 54.0, range 31-64) who self-reported significant and distressing sexual desire and/or sexual arousal concerns were assigned either to three, 90-minute mindfulness-based cognitive behavior therapy sessions or two months of wait-list control prior to entering the treatment arm. Validated measures of sexual response, sexual distress, and mood, as well as laboratory-evoked physiological and subjective sexual arousal were assessed at pre-, one month post-, and 6-months following treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant effects of the wait-list condition on any measure. Treatment led to significant improvements in all domains of sexual response, and a trend towards significance for reducing sexual distress. Perception of genital arousal during an erotic film was also significantly increased following the intervention despite no change in physiologically-measured sexual arousal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A brief mindfulness-based intervention was effective for improving sexual functioning. Geographic restrictions permitted only a select sample of survivors to participate, thus, the generalizability of the findings is limited. Future studies should aim to develop online modalities for treatment administration to overcome this limitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada. lori.brotto@vch.ca
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Brotto
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Erskine
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ehlen
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heywood
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McAlpine
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Sydney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014850:Waiting Lists