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Teaching a human sexuality course to psychiatric patients: The process, pitfalls, and rewards

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Abstract

A course in Human Sexuality was taught to psychiatric inpatients and outpatients enrolled in an educational treatment program at a Veterans Administration Hospital. The course both imparted factual information and created an atmosphere where the patients could discuss their feelings. The patients were helped to deal with delusions, fears, and guilt and to think about more adaptive or socially acceptable ways to express their sexuality. The patients seemed to enjoy and benefit from the course, and this response has encouraged the program to continue offering Human Sexuality courses in the future.

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The authors wish to express their gratitude to Marilyn C. Geller for her library research and invaluable editorial assistance in the preparation of this document.

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Sadow, D., Corman, A.G. Teaching a human sexuality course to psychiatric patients: The process, pitfalls, and rewards. Sex Disabil 6, 47–53 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01119849

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