Effects of Group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy versus Supportive Sex Education on Sexual Concordance and Sexual Response Among Women with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and supportive sex education both improved sexual response and reduced distress in women with low sexual desire and arousal, but MBCT was generally more effective. MBCT increased the alignment between psychological and physiological aspects of sexual response, known as sexual concordance, more than the education program. Gains in sexual concordance predicted reductions in sexual distress over the course of treatment. The study involved 148 cisgender women who were randomly assigned to eight weekly group sessions of either MBCT or supportive sex education, with assessments before and after treatment and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Low interest in sexual activity and impaired sexual response are among women's most frequent sexual concerns. Mindfulness-based treatments improve low sexual desire and arousal and associated distress. One theorized mechanism of change is the cultivation of increased mind-body awareness via greater concordance between psychological and physiological components of sexual response. We examined sexual psychophysiology data from 148 cisgender women randomized to receive mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MCBT: n = 70) or supportive sex education (STEP: n = 78) over eight weekly group sessions. Women completed in-lab assessments of subjective, affective, and genital sexual responses to an erotic film pre- and post-treatment, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Both groups showed positive changes in sexual and affective responses, but these were generally more pronounced for MBCT. MCBT increased sexual concordance to a greater degree, and gains in sexual concordance predicted improvements in sexual distress throughout treatment.