Randomized Comparison of Mindfulness Versus Group Support for Treatment of Low Sexual Desire in Women

Randomized Comparison of Mindfulness Versus Group Support for Treatment of Low Sexual Desire in Women

The purpose of this study is to determine whether an 8-session mindfulness-based intervention (MBCT group) is effective for women with low sexual interest/desire in reducing sexual distress, improving their sexual response, and increasing their mindful skills, compared to a support group.

HYPOTHESES:

1. Compared to baseline, the MBCT group will have significant post-treatment improvements in self-report measures of: (a) sexual distress; (b) sexual desire, subjective sexual arousal, perception of genital arousal, and sexual pleasure; (c) relationship satisfaction; (d) depressive symptoms and rumination; (e) perceived stress, general anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and sexuality-related situational anxiety (as self-reported at the sexual arousal assessment); and (f) mindfulness, self-compassion, non-attachment, and interoceptive awareness.
2. Compared to baseline, the MBCT group will have significant post-treatment improvements in laboratory physiological measures of: (a) genital sexual response as measured by a vaginal photoplethysmograph, (b) interoceptive awareness, as measured by a heart rate perception task, and (c) cortisol:DHEA ratio as measured by hormonal assays of saliva samples.
3. We hypothesize that the changes in the endpoints listed in #1 or #2 will be significantly greater in the MBCT group than in the support group.
4. We hypothesize that participation in the MBCT group will significantly increase concordance between genital and subjective sexual arousal.
5. Mindfulness, self-compassion, and interoceptive awareness will significantly mediate improvements in sexual distress and desire in the MBCT group at all post-treatment assessment points.
6. Expectations of change with treatment will not significantly moderate improvements in sexual distress and desire in the MBCT group.
7. Participants' impressions of change will be significantly greater in the MBCT group compared to the support group at all post-treatment assessment points.
8. We hypothesize that participants will experience fewer breaks in the sexual response cycle throughout the course of the eight-week treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• must be experiencing distressing sexual interest/desire and/or sexual arousal concerns
• must between the ages of 19 - 65
• must be fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• not experiencing distressing sexual interest/desire and/or sexual arousal concerns
• not between the ages of 19-65
• unable to read, write, speak and understand English