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Ethics code: IR.SHAHED.REC.1401.034

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Akhavan Taqhavi M H, Roshan R, Shairi M R, Farahani H. Determining the Preliminary Efficacy of the Couple's Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program in Reducing Pain and Fear, Increasing Women's Sexual Performance and Satisfaction in Women with Vaginismus and Her Husbands: A Single Case Study. MEJDS 2025; 15 (0) :35-35
URL: http://jdisabilstud.org/article-1-3315-en.html
Determining the Preliminary Efficacy of the Couple's Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program in Reducing Pain and Fear, Increasing Women's Sexual Performance and Satisfaction in Women with Vaginismus and Her Husbands: A Single Case Study
Mohammad Hossein Akhavan Taqhavi1 , Rasol Roshan *2 , Mohammad Reza Shairi3 , Hojatollah Farahani4
1- PhD Student of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
2- Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
3- Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
4- Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:   (991 Views)

Abstract
Background & Objectives: Genito–pelvic pain/penetration disorder leads to a decrease in psychological and physical performance and hurts sexual self–esteem and self–efficacy, which impairs the ability of women with vaginismus and their spouses to achieve sexual satisfaction. Commonly, in the cognitive–behavioral treatments used for the treatment of vaginismus disorder, women are the target of therapy. In contrast, when, in addition to women, their husbands are also the target of cognitive–behavioral treatment, sexual performance and satisfaction increase. Due to the lack of such a treatment approach in the country, in addition to the woman suffering from vaginismus, her husband should also be treated and evaluated. There is a fundamental gap in this area. Considering the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, especially vaginismus, in Iranian women and since sexual satisfaction plays a major role in marital satisfaction and the quality of life of couples, the present study aimed to determine the preliminary efficacy of the couple's cognitive behavioral therapy program in reducing pain and fear, increasing sexual function and satisfaction of women with vaginismus and her husbands.
Methods: A single–case research design was implemented on a couple using purposive sampling. During this research, the sample studied three times: before, during and after the intervention using the Questionnaire for Diagnosis of Vaginismus (Reisy et al., 2015), the Female Sexual Function Index (Rosen et al., 2000), Men Sexual Health Questionnaire (Rosen et al., 2004), the Golombok–Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (Rust & Golombok, 1986), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Spanier, 1976), the Symptom Checklist–90– Revised (Derogatis et al., 1973), the Personality Inventory for DSM–5—Brief Form (Krueger et al., 2012), the Sexual Self–esteem Inventory for Woman–Short Form (Zeanah & Schwarz, 1996) and the Sexual Self–Efficacy Questionnaire (Schwarz, 1996). Also, the effectiveness of the couple's cognitive–behavioral package for the treatment of vaginismus was investigated in the validation process, in addition to evaluating the experts' opinion by implementing it on an Iranian couple. In the content validity process, it was scored by 12 experts, therapists, and patients. The content validity index (CVI) was in the range of 0.85–1, and the content validity ratio (CVR) was in the range of 0.71–1. After attending the assessment session, the participant couple attended six therapy sessions once a week. Assessments were conducted after the baseline phase, once at the end of the fourth session, and once again after the completion of treatment. To comply with ethical standards before starting treatment, the researcher (first author of the study) provided the subjects with complete explanations regarding the purpose of the research, interview method, initial examination, and treatment protocol, confidentiality of the treatment process, and voluntary participation in the study, and a female therapist was used to perform educational techniques during the treatment process. The results were analyzed using descriptive indices, dispersion, and stability intervals of 20% of the mean. This study's demographic data and other variables were analyzed by descriptive statistics based on SPSS version 26, inter–situational analysis, and its trend based on graphic diagram analysis.
Results: The analysis method of this research was an inter–situational analysis based on which the trends of the research variables were investigated. The scores of female client in post–baseline evaluations, especially the third evaluation, showed an increase except for fear and pain. The trend about pain and fear decreased, and sexual function, sexual self–esteem, sexual self–efficacy, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction were on the rise. The variables for this female case had a rate of improvement of 16% at the lowest level in the case of male client; the upward trend of sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction showed the efficiency of the intervention. In this male case, an increase of at least 15% was achieved among the variables under investigation.
Conclusion: Based on the findings obtained from the present single case study, it was found that, among other treatment approaches available for the treatment of vaginismus disorder, the couple's cognitive behavioral therapy program is effective in reducing pain and fear, increasing the performance and sexual satisfaction of the woman with vaginismus and his spouse.
 


Keywords: Vaginismus, Sexual self–efficacy, Sexual satisfaction, Cognitive–behavioral couples therapy
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Type of Study: Original Research Article | Subject: Psychology
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