The impact of intensive trauma-focused treatment on sexual functioning in individuals with PTSD
Results suggest intensive treatment for PTSD (prolonged exposure, EMDR, physical activity, psychoeducation) can benefit sexual functioning.
Article Abstract
“Background: Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often experience sexual disturbances.
Objective: To determine whether intensive trauma-focused treatment is associated with an improvement in sexual functioning (i.e., sexual satisfaction and sexual desire) in individuals with PTSD.
Method: In total, 227 patients with PTSD (68.7% women, mean age = 40.97) participated in an intensive eight-day trauma-focused treatment program consisting of prolonged exposure, eye movement and desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, physical activity, and psychoeducation. Patients were assessed (i.e., Clinician Administered PTSD Scale and Sexual Functioning Questionnaire) pre- and post-treatment and at 6-months follow-up.
Results: Sexual satisfaction and sexual desire increased significantly associated with trauma-focused treatment from pre-treatment to 6-months follow-up, albeit the effect sizes were small (Cohen’s d = 0.39 and 0.17, respectively). Although men reported greater overall sexual desire than women, sexual functioning improved after treatment in both men and women. Furthermore, those with remission of PTSD reported greater sexual functioning post-treatment and at 6-months follow-up, than those without remission. However, changes in PTSD symptoms associated with treatment were not predictive of the level of sexual satisfaction or sexual desire 6 months after treatment.
Conclusion: The results of this uncontrolled study suggest that intensive treatment for PTSD can have beneficial effects on sexual satisfaction and desire in both men and women; however, this may not necessarily be due to a decrease in PTSD symptoms.”
—Description from publisher
Article Access
Open Access
van Woudenberg, C., Voorendonk, E. M., Tunissen, B., van Beek, V. H. F., Rozendael, L., van Minnen, A., & de Jongh, A. (2023). The impact of intensive trauma-focused treatment on sexual functioning in individuals with PTSD. Frontiers in Psychology, 14:1191916. Open access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1191916
Date
August 7, 2023
Creator(s)
Clair van Woudenberg, Eline M. Voorendonk, Bo Tunissen
Contributor(s)
Vince H. F. van Beek, Linda Rozendael, Agnes Van Minnen, Ad De Jongh
Topics
PTSD, Sexual Trauma
Extent
9 pages
Publisher
Frontiers
Rights
© 2023 van Woudenberg, Voorendonk, Tunissen, van Beek, Rozendael, Van Minnen and De Jongh. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
APA Citation
van Woudenberg, C., Voorendonk, E. M., Tunissen, B., van Beek, V. H. F., Rozendael, L., van Minnen, A., & de Jongh, A. (2023). The impact of intensive trauma-focused treatment on sexual functioning in individuals with PTSD. Frontiers in Psychology, 14:1191916. Open access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1191916
Audience
EMDR Therapists, Other Mental Health Professionals
Language
English
Content Type
Article, Peer-Reviewed
Access Type
External Resource, Open Access
