Skip to main content

Psychotherapy for Sexual Dysfunctions

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sexual Medicine

Abstract

Psychological factors play a significant role in the causation of sexual dysfunction. Predisposing factors provide the base, precipitating factors cause and maintaining factors sustain the sexual dysfunctions. Couple relationship and/or conflicts also add a layer of complex emotional complications to sexual dysfunctions. Psychological disturbances can be the cause or effect of sexual dysfunctions in the individual and/or in the couple. Psychoanalytical psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness therapy, and systemic therapy are used to treat psychogenic sexual dysfunctions singly or in combination. Integration of these therapies with pharmacotherapy is the essence of biopsychosocial model of integrative sex therapy. Sex therapy is a structured psychotherapeutic schedule introduced by Masters and Johnson and later improvised by Helen Kaplan. Psychotherapy used for the management of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, female sexual interest/arousal disorder, female orgasmic disorder, and genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorders is discussed in this chapter. The addition of psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy in the management of organic sexual dysfunctions will give better results and also compliance to treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. McCarthy B, Metz M. The ‘Good-Enough Sex’ model: a case illustration. Sex Relationship Ther. 2008;23:227–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Althof SE, Abdo CH, Dean J, Hackett G, McCabe M, McMahon CG, et al. International Society for Sexual Medicine’s guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of premature ejaculation. J Sex Med. 2010;7:2947–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Levine S, Risen C, Althof S. Essay on the diagnosis and nature of paraphilia. J Sex Marital Ther. 1990;16:89–102.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Levine S. Sexual life: a clinician’s guide. New York: Plenum Press; 1992.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Freud S. Three essays on the theory of sexuality (1905). In: Strachey J, editor. The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud. London: Hogarth Press; 1971. p. 135–243.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Shaeer O, Shaeer K. The global online sexuality survey (GOSS): ejaculatory function, penile anatomy, and contraceptive usage among Arabic-speaking internet users in the Middle East. J Sex Med. 2012;9(2):425–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Luthar S. The concept of resilience. Child Dev. 2000;71:534–62.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bancroft J. Sexual arousal and response—the psychosomatic circle. In: Bancroft J, editor. Human sexuality and its problems. 3rd ed. Edinburg: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Freund B, Steketee G. Sexual history, attitudes and functioning of obsessive-compulsive patients. J Sex Marital Ther. 1989;15:31–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Van Minnen A, Kampman M. The interaction between anxiety and sexual functioning: a controlled study of sexual functioning in women with anxiety disorders. Sex Relationship Ther. 2000;15:47–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Quinta Gomes AL, Nobre P. Personality traits and psychopathology on male sexual dysfunction: an empirical study. J Sex Med. 2011;8:461–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Freud S. Lecture four. In: Five lectures on psycho-analysis. The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud. Vol. XI. 1910

    Google Scholar 

  13. Freud S. The ego and the id. In: The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund. Vol. XIX. 1923. p. 1–66.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Nobre P, Pinto-Gouveia J. Dysfunctional sexual beliefs as vulnerability factors to sexual dysfunction. J Sex Res. 2006;43(1):68–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Baker CD, de Silva P. The relationship between male sexual dysfunction and belief in Zilbergeld’s myths: an empirical investigation. Sex Marital Ther. 1988;3:229–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Weiderman M. The state of theory in sex therapy. J Sex Res. 1998;35(1):88–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Barlow D. Causes of sexual dysfunction: the role of anxiety and cognitive interference. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1986;54(2):140–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kabat-Zinn J. An outpatient program in behavioral medicine for chronic pain patients based on the practice of mindfulness meditation: theoretical considerations and preliminary results. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1982;4:33–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Brotto LA, Basson R, Luria M. A mindfulness-based group psychoeducational intervention targeting sexual arousal disorder in women. J Sex Med. 2008;5(7):164659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Masters W, Johnson V, editors. Human sexual inadequacy. Boston: Little, Brown; 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kaplan HS, editor. The new sex therapy. New York: Brunner; 1974.editor

    Google Scholar 

  22. Zilbergeld B. The new male sexuality. New York: Batam Books; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Nobre P, Gouveia J. Erectile dysfunction: an empirical approach on Beck’s cognitive theory. Sex Relationship Ther. 2000;15(4):351–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Santtila P, et al. Recreational use of erectile dysfunction medication may decrease confidence in ability to gain and hold erections in young males. Int J Impot Res. 2007;19(6):591–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Waldinger M, et al. An empirical operationalization study of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for premature ejaculation. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 1998;2:287293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Schapiro B. Premature ejaculation, a review of 1130 cases. J Urol. 1943;50:3749.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Perelman MA. A new combination treatment for premature ejaculation: a sex therapist’s perspective. J Sex Med. 2006;3(6):1004–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Berner M, Gunzler C. Efficacy of psychosocial interventions in men and women with sexual dysfunctions—a systematic review of controlled clinical trials: part 1-the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for male sexual dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2012;9(12):3089–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Hawton J. Treatment of sexual dysfunction by sex therapy and other approaches. Br J Psychiatry. 1995;167:307–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  31. Perelman MA. Idiosyncratic masturbation patterns: a key unexplored variable in the treatment of retarded ejaculation by the practicing urologist. J Urol. 2005;173:340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Apfelbaum B. Retarded ejaculation: a much-misunderstood syndrome. In: Leiblum SR, Rosen RC, editors. Principles and practice of sex therapy: update for the 1990s. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press; 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Hurlbert D. A comparative study using orgasm consistency training in the treatment of women reporting hypoactive sexual desire. J Sex Marital Ther. 1993;19:41–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Brotto L, Heiman J, Goff B, Greer B, Lentz G, Swisher E, et al. A psychoeducational intervention for sexual dysfunction in women with gynecologic cancer. Arch Sex Behav. 2008;37(2):317–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Meston CM, Hull E, Levin RJ, Sipski M. Women’s orgasm. In: Lue TF, Basson R, Rosen R, Giuliano G, Khoury S, Montorsi F, editors. Sexual medicine: sexual dysfunctions in men and women. Paris: Health Publications; 2004. p. 783–850.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Goldstein A. Medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests for the evaluation of dyspareunia. In: Goldstein A, Pukall CF, Goldstein I, editors. Female sexual pain disorders: evaluation and management. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell; 2009. p. 14–20.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  37. Landry T, Bergeron S, Dupuis M-J, Desrochers G. The treatment of provoked vestibulodynia: a critical review. Clin J Pain. 2008;24(2):155–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Brotto L, Basson R, Carlson M, Zhu C. Impact of an integrated mindfulness and cognitive behavioural treatment for provoked vestibulodynia (IMPROVED): a qualitative study. Sex Relationship Ther. 2013;28(1–2):3–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Sathyanarayana Reddy, A. (2019). Psychotherapy for Sexual Dysfunctions. In: Gunasekaran, K., Khan, S. (eds) Sexual Medicine . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1226-7_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1226-7_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-1225-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-1226-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics