643 Mindfulness in Sex Therapy: a Comprehensive Review
Amelia Villena, E. Gimeno, M. Blazquez, Laura Olivia Amador Zavala, E. García, F. Ilarraza, Carlos Chiclana Actis
The Journal of Sexual Medicine June 29, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.04.550 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Clients with sexual difficulties, including sexual dysfunctions and hypersexual disorder, as represented in the reviewed literature |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Mindfulness Awareness Training |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that mindfulness-based interventions, including first-generation approaches such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and second-generation approaches such as Mindfulness Awareness Training, were useful in reducing sexual stress and pain, improving sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction, and helping patients with hypersexual disorder. |
Abstract
The aim of this study is to provide an exhaustive exploration of the possible benefits that Mindfulness practices have in clients with sexual difficulties. We have carried out a bibliographic review through Ebsco (which includes Pubmed, Psycinfo and Google Scholar). We used the key words “Mindfulness AND (Sexual Difficulties OR Sexuality OR Sexual Dysfunctions OR Sexual Problems OR Hypersexuality)”. We found 75 articles from 2007 to 2017 about the efficacy and utility of mindfulness practice in the treatment of sexual problems. We finally selected 57 to elaborate this work. 27 of them were empirical researches with real patients experiencing different sexual pathologies, 29 were bibliographic reviews and there was 1 meta-analysis. There are different interventions based on Mindfulness used in sex therapy: 1) First Generation Mindfulness interventions (i.e.: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction or Mindfulness-Bases Cognitive Therapy Intervention). 2) Second Generation Mindfulness Interventions (i.e.: Mindfulness Awareness Training). In our review, all of these interventions proved to be useful in: reducing sexual difficulties as sexual stress and pain; improving sexual desire, excitation, lubrication, orgasm and sexual satisfaction. As well, Mindfulness interventions are useful in patients suffering hypersexual disorder.
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 |