Review of behavioral psychotherapy, II: sexual disorders

Abstract

Sexual dysfunction has been shown to respond to a "behavioral Masters and Johnson" approach. Several controlled studies have found this approach to be superior to other methods, with one follow-up showing improvement up to 18 months later. Good results have usually been obtained using one rather than two therapists per couple. This brings into question whether the doubling of expense by use of two therapists is justified by the marginal gains in outcome. Results of early group treatment experiments with couples with sexual dysfunction have been encouraging. Behavioral methods are also useful in reducing a variety of sexual deviations (paraphilias); recent emphasis has moved away from the patient being passively averted by the therapist toward devising his own self-management program, including self-administered aversion when necessary.