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A Review of Mindfulness-Based Sex Therapy Interventions for Sexual Desire and Arousal Difficulties: From Research to Practice

  • Integrating the Psychosocial (B McCarthy, RT Segraves and AH Clayton, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Published articles and case studies on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) to treat sexual desire and arousal dysfunctions were reviewed. Only publications utilizing clinical samples (which are the majority of the literature) were included, resulting in 12 empirical papers and 5 case studies. There is preliminary empirical evidence for the effectiveness of MBIs in enhancing sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, ejaculatory latency, perceived sexual arousal, sexual satisfaction, and decreasing sexual distress. However, most of the research has been conducted on women in groups. There are many populations that remain underrepresented in the literature (e.g., men, people of diverse race/ethnicity/sexual orientation/gender identity, the aging). Online interventions and body-based approaches show some promise, but more empirical research is needed. Research on mindfulness-based couples groups are in progress.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •Of importance ••Of major importance

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Conflict of Interest

Sara J.S. Mize declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by the author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Human Sexuality, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 1300 South Second Street, Suite 180, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Sara J. S. Mize

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  1. Sara J. S. Mize
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Correspondence to Sara J. S. Mize.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Integrating the Psychosocial

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Mize, S.J.S. A Review of Mindfulness-Based Sex Therapy Interventions for Sexual Desire and Arousal Difficulties: From Research to Practice. Curr Sex Health Rep 7, 89–97 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-015-0048-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-015-0048-8

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