THE TREATMENT OF SEXUALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL MEN WITHOUT PARTNERS - A CONTROLLED-STUDY OF 3 BEHAVIORAL GROUP APPROACHES

Background Models of sex therapy for sexual dysfunction in single men are available, but their value is not well established. This controlle d study compared three approaches to the treatment of sexually dysfunc tional single men. Method Sixty-nine single men diagnosed as sexually dysfunctional were randomly assigned to treatments focusing on either their sexual dysfunction, their interpersonal problems, a combination of both or a waiting list; 51 completed treatment and 50 the one-year follow-up. Treatment was administered in small groups in 15 weekly ses sions and lour six-weekly sessions during the first six months of a ye ar-long follow-up. Results No clinically meaningful change was observe d during the waiting period. in contrast, a significant and equivalent improvement was observed in all treatment groups by the end of treatm ent. However, differences between them were in evidence al 6 and 12 mo nths' follow-up. Conclusions Both treatments paying attention to the p atients' interpersonal difficulties resulted in significantly better o utcomes overall than the approach that concentrated on problems in sex ual functioning alone.