Mindfulness in Sex Therapy and Intimate Relationships (MSIR): Clinical Protocol and Theory Development

Kocsis, Ádám T.; Newbury-Helps, John

doi:10.1007/s12671-016-0506-z

Cited by 15 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…49 The intervention integrated empirically supported elements of psychoeducation, sex therapy principles, cognitive therapy principles, and mindfulness skills practice. The intervention was developed based on pre-existing mindfulness-based cognitive therapy treatment groups for sexual dysfunction, 50 elements from a couples-based mindfulness therapy manual, 43 and expert input. The groups lasted 2 hours in length and were scheduled once per week in successive weeks.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 42 Mindfulness has also been used with couples who do not have cancer in order to improve sexual intimacy. 43 It is hypothesized that mindfulness improves attentional focus, thus reducing distractions related to poor erectile functioning, body image, or distress from a cancer diagnosis/treatments, and in turn, improving sexual and relationship outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Preliminary Development of a Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy to Expand Couples’ Sexual Intimacy after Prostate Cancer: A Mixed Methods Approach

2021

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Introduction Sexual health and intimacy are consistently reported among the top unmet supportive care needs of prostate cancer (PC) survivors. With an aging population and advances in PC detection and treatment, the need for better PC sexual health interventions is acute. Aim Examine the feasibility of a mindfulness-based therapy group aimed at improving sexual intimacy for couples following PC treatments. Methods A 4-session mindfulness-based group intervention was developed for PC survivors (mean age 65.6 yrs) and their partners (mean age 61.4 yrs). A mixed-methods approach was adopted to account for small sample sizes ( N = 14 couples). Findings will guide future treatment refinement via participants’ lived experiences. Main Outcome Measures Quantitative outcomes assessed pretreatment, immediately after treatment, and 6 months later included relationship adjustment, sexual satisfaction, sexual function, depression, anxiety, and mindfulness. Qualitative outcomes used Grounded Theory Approach following posttreatment exit interviews. Results Effect sizes 6 months posttreatment indicated moderate improvements in overall sexual satisfaction and large increases in mindfulness in PC survivors, small decreases in sexual intimacy reported by partners, and small increases in anxiety in PC survivors and partners. Qualitative outcomes revealed 6 themes: (i) PC treatments must view PC as a couple’s disease; (ii) PC treatments must consider the impact of illness on individuals and the couple; (iii) Mindfulness was a valued treatment modality; (iv) Individual factors contribute to outcomes, and therefore, must be considered; (v) Multiple perceived mechanisms for change exist; (vi) Group format is a therapeutic element of the process. Conclusion An acceptance-based approach to sexual intimacy needs among PC survivors and their partners is feasible. While this small-scale preliminary study suggests that mindfulness may address some currently unmet needs among this population, randomized clinical trials are needed. JA Bossio, CS Higano, LA Brotto. Preliminary Development of a Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy to Expand Couples’ Sexual Intimacy after Prostate Cancer: A Mixed Methods Approach. Sex Med 2021;9:100310.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Development of a Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy to Expand Couples’ Sexual Intimacy after Prostate Cancer: A Mixed Methods Approach

2021

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Section: Management Of Sexual Dysfunction Associated With Psychiatricmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…121 Reduced avoidance of sexual interaction and a new focus on the sexual sensory experience rather than on any goal has been observed in a number of sexual dysfunctions including reduced sexual interest and arousal. 122 Sexual pain has recently been shown to benefit from MBCT. Mindfulness has been described as "uncoupling" the physical sensation from the emotional and cognitive experience of pain, 123 leading to a reduction in catastrophizing.…”

Section: Psychological Therapiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s sexual dysfunction associated with psychiatric disorders and their treatment

Basson

Gilks

2018

Womens Health (Lond Engl)

143

106

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Impairment of mental health is the most important risk factor for female sexual dysfunction. Women living with psychiatric illness, despite their frequent sexual difficulties, consider sexuality to be an important aspect of their quality of life. Antidepressant and antipsychotic medication, the neurobiology and symptoms of the illness, past trauma, difficulties in establishing relationships and stigmatization can all contribute to sexual dysfunction. Low sexual desire is strongly linked to depression. Lack of subjective arousal and pleasure are linked to trait anxiety: the sensations of physical sexual arousal may lead to fear rather than to pleasure. The most common type of sexual pain is 10 times more common in women with previous diagnoses of anxiety disorder. Clinicians often do not routinely inquire about their patients' sexual concerns, particularly in the context of psychotic illness but careful assessment, diagnosis and explanation of their situation is necessary and in keeping with patients' wishes. Evidence-based pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are available but poorly researched in the context of psychotic illness.

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“…Thus, mindfulness can be conceptualized as a dispositional or trait-like characteristic, a set of skills or a state of awareness (Baer 2003). Mindfulness has been commonly applied in the fields of chronic disease and sex therapy (Baer 2003;Brotto et al 2015;Brotto and Heiman 2007;Johnston 2012;Kocsis and Newbury-Helps 2016). Regarding disability, mindfulness has been applied to patients with multiple sclerosis, and research has largely shown its role in increasing quality of life, emotional regulation, and resilience (Senders et al 2012).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mindfulness-Related Variables and Sexual/Relationship Satisfaction in People with Physical Disabilities

Pereira

Almeida²,

Teixeira

et al. 2020

Mindfulness

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Objectives Research has shown the role of mindfulness and self-compassion in promoting resilience while living with a disabling condition. However, little is known on the influence of these variables on sexual and relationship satisfaction of people with physical disabilities. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the contribution of mindfulness, self-compassion, and acceptance in predicting sexual and relationship satisfaction, above and beyond experiencing physical disability. Methods A sample of 377 participants, aged between 18 and 55 years old, took part in a survey. Of these, 189 participants had a self-reported physical disability, the majority (70.1%) being either motor or neuromuscular health conditions. Results Findings showed that higher levels of mindfulness, self-compassion, and acceptance significantly predicted higher sexual (ΔR 2 = between .081 and .166; p < .05) and relationship satisfaction (ΔR 2 = between .072 and .106; p < .05), above and beyond the physical condition of the participants. Additionally, the physical condition was a moderator for the relationship between the mindfulness dimension of self-compassion and sexual satisfaction (ΔR 2 = .024; p = .037), as this association was only significant for people with physical disabilities. Conclusions This study explores possible vulnerability and protective psychological mechanisms that may be involved in sexual and relationship satisfaction, above and beyond the effects of the physical disability. Despite its limitations, findings call into attention for the importance of further research on mindfulness-related variables in optimizing sexual health in people with and without physical disabilities.

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Mindfulness in Sex Therapy and Intimate Relationships (MSIR): Clinical Protocol and Theory Development

Cited by 15 publications

References 46 publications

Preliminary Development of a Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy to Expand Couples’ Sexual Intimacy after Prostate Cancer: A Mixed Methods Approach

Preliminary Development of a Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy to Expand Couples’ Sexual Intimacy after Prostate Cancer: A Mixed Methods Approach

Women’s sexual dysfunction associated with psychiatric disorders and their treatment

Mindfulness-Related Variables and Sexual/Relationship Satisfaction in People with Physical Disabilities

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