Clinical Outcome of Sex Therapy

Pharmaceutical companies could serve their own interests by supporting research on the efficacy of psychotherapy on premature ejaculation

“…4 Despite the mismatch of success rates between the pioneering studies of Masters and Johnson and Kaplan and those of later parametric studies, clinical findings were nevertheless still promising, with short-term success rates typically reported at or above 70%. 5,6 However, treatment effects assessed 1-3 years later in these patients proved less encouraging. On average, only about 60% of patients reported long-term satisfactory outcomes, with at least one study reporting results as low as 25%.…”

Sexuality and psychotherapy.

“…Treatment of male sexual arousal disorder has changed dramatically in the past decade. Although traditional sex therapy techniques 1 (including sensate focus, communication training, homework exercises, challenging beliefs underlying performance anxiety) have historically proven effective (Hawton, Catalan, & Fagg, 1992;Heiman & LoPiccolo, 1983), most men in treatment are now taking an oral medication (e.g., sildenafil [Viagra] or tadalafil [Cialis]) as part, or all, of that treatment. Although the oral medications have proven effective in about two thirds or more of men (Bénard, Carrier, Lee, Talwar, & Defoy, 2010), evidence has shown that combining these medications with psychological interventions may provide the greatest, and longest lasting, effects (Melnik, Soares, & Nasello, 2008).…”

“…The treatment of delayed or absent orgasms is usually dependent on the specific nature of the dysfunction (i.e., under what circumstances the person can and cannot reach orgasm) and the identified or suspected etiological elements (e.g., medical conditions, drugs, intrapsychic vs. interpersonal dynamics; Meston, 2006). In those cases in which organic factors can be ruled out, sex therapy can be effective, particularly with primary female anorgasmia (e.g., Heiman & LoPiccolo, 1983;McCabe, 2001).…”

“…Behavioral techniques ("squeeze" and "stopstart") for premature ejaculation have been found to be helpful (Heiman & LoPiccolo, 1983;Masters & Johnson, 1976), as have other cognitive and behavioral approaches (e.g., de Carufel & Trudel, 2006). In recent years, medications known to interfere with orgasm (e.g., SSRIs and some tricyclic antidepressants) have demonstrated efficacy in treating premature ejaculation (Strassberg, deGouveia Brazao, Rowland, Tan, & Slob, 1999).…”

Empirically supported couple and family interventions for marital distress and adult mental health problems.

“…Low attrition rates in both studies of partner-assisted SST indicate patient acceptance of the treatment. Furthermore, several effectiveness studies have found that a 15-session weekly treatment format is as effective as a 15-session daily treatment protocol (Heiman & LoPiccolo, 1983) and that cotherapy is not superior to a single (male or female) therapist format (LoPiccolo, Heiman, Hogan, & Roberts, 1985). To date, there is no clear evidence that the efficacy status of SST can be generalized to the treatment of secondary (situational) female orgasmic disorders.…”