Problems with sexual function are common and distressing. The most frequent sexual difficulty in women is a lack of sexual desire with a prevalence of 20-30%. When low sexual desire is experienced over several months and causes significant personal distress, a sexual dysfunction can be diagnosed (ICD-10: Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: HSDD). A distressing lack of desire is reported by 6% of sexually active women. Psychological interventions are the treatment of choice for women with HSDD. Promising treatment approaches include cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based interventions. A recent meta-analysis also showed that Internet-delivered programs are a valid alternative to face-to-face treatments. Aim of this project to assess the effectivity of two eight-week online-programs consisting of cognitive-behavioral (COPE) and mindfulness-based (MIND) interventions for women with HSDD. Both treatments will be compared to a waitlist-control group. For this project, two well-established group-treatment manuals will be translated into German and adapted to a multimedia online-environment. All participants will be guided through the programs by well-qualified eCoaches.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
266
COPE-program of 8 sessions (+ 1 booster session) of guided Internet-based treatment including psychoeducation, sexual education, guided masturbation, sensate focus and cognitive-behavioral interventions (e.g., thought diaries, challenging of maladaptive thought patterns, behavioral analysis). Participants are encouraged to practice exercises between sessions.
MIND-program of 8 sessions (+ 1 booster session) of guided Internet-based treatment including psychoeducation, sexual education, guided masturbation, sensate focus and mindfulness-based exercises (e.g., breathing meditation, body scan, sitting meditation).
Ruhr University Bochum
Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Sexual Interest and Desire Inventory Female (SIDI-F)
The SIDI-F is a clinician-rated instrument consisting of 13 items designed to assess HSDD severity in women. A self-report version, modified for the use in partnered and unpartnered women will be applied.
Time frame: at baseline, 5 weeks after baseline, 3 months after baseline, 6 months after baseline, 12 months after baseline
Female Sexual Distress Scale Revised (FSDS-R)
The Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS) is a 13-item self- assessment questionnaire for the evaluation of sexually related personal distress.
Time frame: at baseline, 5 weeks after baseline, 3 months after baseline, 6 months after baseline, 12 months after baseline
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