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. 2024 May 30;12(11):1116.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare12111116.

Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation and Binaural Beats on Craving and Comorbidities of Sexual Hyperactivity: A Pilot, Exploratory Quasi-Experimental Study

Zeinab Mousavi  1 , Mohammad Hossein Samanipour  2 , Hamed Zarei  3 , Payman Hassani Abharian  4 , Halil İbrahim Ceylan  5 , Nicola Luigi Bragazzi  6   7
Affiliations

Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation and Binaural Beats on Craving and Comorbidities of Sexual Hyperactivity: A Pilot, Exploratory Quasi-Experimental Study

Zeinab Mousavi et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Sexual hyperactivity, often linked with substantial psychological and social disturbances, remains under-researched, particularly in contexts like Iran where cultural and social norms may influence the reporting and treatment of such conditions. This study explores the therapeutic potential of cognitive rehabilitation (CR) and binaural beats (BB) in addressing this issue. The primary objective was to compare the effectiveness of CR and BB in reducing symptoms of sexual hyperactivity and associated comorbid conditions, with a focus on fluctuations in sexual desire and overall mental health. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, the study involved pretest, posttest, and follow-up assessments to evaluate the interventions' impacts. Recruitment through social media yielded 45 participants from a larger pool, who were then assigned to either the CR group, the BB group, or a control group. The CR and BB interventions were administered over a period of 10 sessions, each lasting 20 min, 3 times a week. Significant improvements were observed in both intervention groups compared to the control group. The CR group showed a marked reduction in Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST) scores from an initial average of 24.87 to 6.80 at follow-up, indicating a reduction in symptoms of sexual hyperactivity. The BB group also showed improvement, with SAST scores decreasing from 19.93 to 9.57. In terms of mental health comorbidities, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) scores decreased notably in the CR group from a baseline of 8.53 to 3.07 post-intervention, and in the BB group from 10.33 to 5.80. Both interventions showed similar effectiveness in reducing anxiety and stress, with no statistically significant differences between the groups for most of the outcomes studied, affirming their potential for clinical application.

Keywords: anxiety; cognitive function; cognitive treatment; depression; sexual disorders; sexual hyperactivity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST) scores at the baseline, post-intervention, and at the follow-up for the three study groups (binaural beat intervention group; cognitive rehabilitation group; and control group).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) scores at the baseline, post-intervention, and at the follow-up for the three study groups (binaural beat intervention group; cognitive rehabilitation group; and control group).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Selective reaction times at the baseline, post-intervention, and at the follow-up for the three study groups (binaural beat intervention group; cognitive rehabilitation group; and control group).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Stop-signal task related outcomes (stop-signal reaction time and stop-signal delay time) in the three study groups (binaural beat intervention group; cognitive rehabilitation group; control group).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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