Homework adherence in mindfulness-based cognitive interventions for female sexual dysfunction: a scoping review.
Fernanda Rafaela Cabral Bonato, Nicolas De Oliveira Cardoso, Lori A Brotto
The Journal of Sexual Medicine October 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdae108 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Women with female sexual dysfunction in studies of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Patient compliance Sexual dysfunctions, psychological Sexual dysfunction, physiological Cognitive behavioral therapy Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Homework Female sexual dysfunction |
| Key findings | The authors report that no gold-standard instrument exists for assessing homework adherence in MBCT interventions for female sexual dysfunction. Among 9 studies reporting how homework was assessed, 6 used only ad hoc measures and 3 used psychometrically validated instruments; most studies did not report their adherence assessment method. Mindfulness, psychoeducation, and CBT exercises were the most prescribed homework. |
Abstract
Background: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) includes regular home practice of mindfulness exercises as a key means of cultivating mindfulness. Although there are instruments available for measuring homework adherence following cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), little is known about measuring homework practice in MBCT studies for sexual dysfunction.
Aim: In this review we sought to investigate which items and instruments are the most used for the assessment of homework adherence in studies evaluating MBCT for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD). We also investigated the types of homework used in these interventions.
Methods: Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science) were searched and a total of 30 articles were included in this review.
Outcomes: Our main findings revealed that there was no gold standard instrument used to assess homework adherence in patients using MBCT interventions for FSD, and that most of the reported studies did not provide information on how they assess homework adherence.
Results: Six of the 9 studies for which the articles reported how homework was assessed used only ad hoc measures. Only 3 studies used psychometrically validated instruments. We also found that mindfulness, psychoeducation, and CBT exercises were the most prescribed homework. Strengths and
Limitations: This review uniquely integrates homework adherence measures with studies on FSD that evaluate mindfulness, finding no gold standard for assessing adherence. However, limitations including both MBCT and CBT interventions, limiting generalization to MBCT alone, the predominance of Western-based studies, and the lack of reporting on instruments used to assess adherence, indicating a gap in the field.
Conclusion: Further studies should consider adapting existing instruments that assess homework adherence in studies of CBT for other psychopathologies or seek to develop new psychometrically validated instruments for MBCT interventions that assess homework adherence.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |