Management of sexual problems: the approach of mindfulness.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to systematize the potential benefits of mindfulness in sexual well-being and review its current applications and effectiveness in treating sexual problems.
Results Summary
Mindfulness-based interventions showed promising results for women's sexual desire, arousal, relationship issues, sexual pain, abuse, and distress, though further research is needed to clarify effectiveness and mechanisms.
Population
Primarily women with sexual problems, including desire, arousal, pain, abuse, and distress.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | women's sexual desire and arousal problems | women | - | benefit | #1 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | other components of the sexual response | - | - | enhancing | #2 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | relationship issues | - | - | benefit | #3 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | sexual pain | - | - | benefit | #4 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | sexual abuse | - | - | benefit | #5 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | sexual distress | - | - | benefit | #6 |
mindfulness | increase | women's sexual problems | women | - | encouraging results | #7 |
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: During the last 10 years mindfulness has been progressively integrated into protocols for the management of sexual problems. The purpose of this study is to systematize potential benefits of mindfulness in sexual well-being (considering mind, emotion, and body), and to shortly review current applications and effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions to the treatment of sexual problems. RECENT FINDINGS: The majority of evidence available focuses on women's sexual desire and arousal problems, although there are also preliminary findings for the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in enhancing other components of the sexual response. Relationship issues, sexual pain, sexual abuse, and sexual distress have also revealed to benefit from mindfulness-based interventions. SUMMARY: The practice of mindfulness is a promising clinical approach with encouraging results for women's sexual problems. Further empirical research with different populations and greater methodological rigour is still needed to clarify the effectiveness of mindfulness as a specific component and the mechanisms contributing to therapeutic change.