Randomized Comparison of Mindfulness Versus Group Support for Treatment of Low Sexual Desire in Women

NCT ID: NCT01690897

Last Updated: 2024-12-13

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

149 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-01-01

Study Completion Date

2020-03-01

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to determine whether an 8-session mindfulness-based intervention (MBCT group) is effective for women with low sexual interest/desire in reducing sexual distress, improving their sexual response, and increasing their mindful skills, compared to a support group.

Detailed Description

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HYPOTHESES:

1. Compared to baseline, the MBCT group will have significant post-treatment improvements in self-report measures of: (a) sexual distress; (b) sexual desire, subjective sexual arousal, perception of genital arousal, and sexual pleasure; (c) relationship satisfaction; (d) depressive symptoms and rumination; (e) perceived stress, general anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and sexuality-related situational anxiety (as self-reported at the sexual arousal assessment); and (f) mindfulness, self-compassion, non-attachment, and interoceptive awareness.
2. Compared to baseline, the MBCT group will have significant post-treatment improvements in laboratory physiological measures of: (a) genital sexual response as measured by a vaginal photoplethysmograph, (b) interoceptive awareness, as measured by a heart rate perception task, and (c) cortisol:DHEA ratio as measured by hormonal assays of saliva samples.
3. We hypothesize that the changes in the endpoints listed in #1 or #2 will be significantly greater in the MBCT group than in the support group.
4. We hypothesize that participation in the MBCT group will significantly increase concordance between genital and subjective sexual arousal.
5. Mindfulness, self-compassion, and interoceptive awareness will significantly mediate improvements in sexual distress and desire in the MBCT group at all post-treatment assessment points.
6. Expectations of change with treatment will not significantly moderate improvements in sexual distress and desire in the MBCT group.
7. Participants' impressions of change will be significantly greater in the MBCT group compared to the support group at all post-treatment assessment points.
8. We hypothesize that participants will experience fewer breaks in the sexual response cycle throughout the course of the eight-week treatment.

Conditions

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Low Female Sexual Desire

Keywords

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Female sexual desire Psychoeducational intervention Mindfulness

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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MBCT group

Women randomized into the MBCT group will undergo pre-treatment testing (questionnaires, saliva sample collection, and physiological assessment) within 2.5 months of beginning the mindfulness-based treatment.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Mindfulness-based treatment

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The mindfulness-based treatment for the MBCT group treatment consists of eight 2-hour long weekly sessions, based on a variety of empirically supported techniques, and integrates elements of education, mindfulness skills, and sex therapy. In addition, participants are also given handouts and asked to complete approximately 10-60 minutes/day of at-home practice/skills, which may include reading material, mindfulness exercises, and behavioural exercises between sessions.

Support group

Women randomized into the support group will undergo pre-treatment testing (questionnaires, saliva sample collection, and physiological assessment) within 2.5 months of beginning the sex therapy, education, and support treatment.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Sex therapy, education, and support treatment

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The sex therapy, education, and support group will consist of all of the same techniques and materials in the MBCT group except for the mindfulness components in group sessions and at-home practices.

Interventions

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Mindfulness-based treatment

The mindfulness-based treatment for the MBCT group treatment consists of eight 2-hour long weekly sessions, based on a variety of empirically supported techniques, and integrates elements of education, mindfulness skills, and sex therapy. In addition, participants are also given handouts and asked to complete approximately 10-60 minutes/day of at-home practice/skills, which may include reading material, mindfulness exercises, and behavioural exercises between sessions.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Sex therapy, education, and support treatment

The sex therapy, education, and support group will consist of all of the same techniques and materials in the MBCT group except for the mindfulness components in group sessions and at-home practices.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* must be experiencing distressing sexual interest/desire and/or sexual arousal concerns
* must between the ages of 19 - 65
* must be fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria

* not experiencing distressing sexual interest/desire and/or sexual arousal concerns
* not between the ages of 19-65
* unable to read, write, speak and understand English
Minimum Eligible Age

19 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of British Columbia

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Lori Brotto

Professor, UBC Department of Gynaecology

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Lori A Brotto, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of British Columbia

Locations

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Department of Gynaecology

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

References

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Brotto LA, Basson R, Grabovac A, Chivers ML, Zdaniuk B, Bodnar TS, Weinberg J. Impact of mindfulness versus supportive sex education on stress in women with sexual interest/arousal disorder. J Behav Med. 2024 Aug;47(4):721-733. doi: 10.1007/s10865-024-00491-5. Epub 2024 Apr 26.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38668816 (View on PubMed)

Brotto LA, Zdaniuk B, Chivers ML, Jabs F, Grabovac A, Lalumiere ML, Weinberg J, Schonert-Reichl KA, Basson R. A randomized trial comparing group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy with group supportive sex education and therapy for the treatment of female sexual interest/arousal disorder. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2021 Jul;89(7):626-639. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000661.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34383535 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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H12-01659

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id