Difficulties in brief conjoint treatment of sexual dysfunction

Abstract

The authors offered conjoint treatment of sexual dysfunction to an unselected population in a military hospital for one year. Of the 10 couples who requested treatment, 7 were treated by techniques outlined by Masters and Johnson. The couples who completed the treatment exercises improved, and neurotic interactions, presumably resulting from the symptoms, often disappeared. The couples who avoided the exercises had interactional patterns dominated by projection and blame, sadomasochism, and depressive features; typically their marital difficulties were aggravated by the treatment.