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Women's Sexual Desire, Trauma Exposure, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Julia I O'Loughlin1, Lori A Brotto2
1Department of Counselling Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Journal of Traumatic Stress
|March 28, 2020
Summary
Women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) are significantly more likely to have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD symptoms, particularly avoidance and hyperarousal, may contribute to low sexual desire.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Sexual Medicine
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to sexual dysfunction.
- Research specifically examining PTSD and low sexual desire is limited.
- Understanding this relationship is crucial for comprehensive treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of current and lifetime PTSD in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).
- To compare PTSD symptom types and severity between women with HSDD and those without sexual concerns.
- To examine differences in trauma exposure between the two groups.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing women with HSDD (n=132) to a control group without sexual concerns (n=137).
- Assessment of PTSD diagnostic criteria, symptom types (reexperiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal), frequency, and intensity.
- Evaluation of exposure to potentially traumatic events.
Main Results:
- Women with HSDD had significantly higher odds of meeting criteria for current PTSD (OR=5.50) and lifetime PTSD (OR=2.78).
- HSDD group showed increased odds for avoidance (5.10x) and hyperarousal (4.48x) symptoms.
- Higher past-month PTSD symptom frequency (d=0.62) and intensity (d=0.57) were reported in the HSDD group.
- No significant differences in reexperiencing symptoms or trauma exposure were found between groups.
Conclusions:
- PTSD symptomatology may predispose or perpetuate the development of low sexual desire.
- Low sexual desire and PTSD may be interconnected through altered stress adaptability.
- Findings highlight the importance of screening for PTSD in women presenting with HSDD.
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