title: Group mindfulness-based therapy significantly improves sexual desire in women.
abstract: At least a third of women across reproductive ages experience low sexual desire and impaired arousal. There is increasing evidence that mindfulness, defined as non-judgmental present moment awareness, may improve women's sexual functioning. The goal of this study was to test the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy, either immediately or after a 3-month waiting period, in women seeking treatment for low sexual desire and arousal. Women participated in four 90-min group sessions that included mindfulness meditation, cognitive therapy, and education. A total of 117 women were assigned to either the immediate treatment (n = 68, mean age 40.8 yrs) or delayed treatment (n = 49, mean age 42.2 yrs) group, in which women had two pre-treatment baseline assessments followed by treatment. A total of 95 women completed assessments through to the 6-month follow-up period. Compared to the delayed treatment control group, treatment significantly improved sexual desire, sexual arousal, lubrication, sexual satisfaction, and overall sexual functioning. Sex-related distress significantly decreased in both conditions, regardless of treatment, as did orgasmic difficulties and depressive symptoms. Increases in mindfulness and a reduction in depressive symptoms predicted improvements in sexual desire. Mindfulness-based group therapy significantly improved sexual desire and other indices of sexual response, and should be considered in the treatment of women's sexual dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: lori.brotto@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Brotto
authors.affiliation: UBC Sexual Medicine Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, M41 - 2221 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: Rosemary.Basson@vch.ca.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Basson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Group therapy; Low arousal; Low desire; Mindfulness; Sexual dysfunction