Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:750-756
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Review of behavioral psychotherapy, II: sexual disorders
IM Marks
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.
