Change in sexual distress during cognitive processing therapy: Characterization and baseline predictors

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Trauma Studies
• Sexual Health

Background:

• Interpersonal trauma negatively impacts sexual wellness and increases sexual distress.
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) effectively treats posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but its effect on sexual distress is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine changes in sexual distress among survivors of interpersonal violence undergoing CPT for PTSD.
• To identify baseline predictors of sexual distress improvement during CPT.

Main Methods:

• 161 adult survivors of interpersonal violence receiving CPT for PTSD were analyzed.
• Latent difference score models assessed changes in sexual distress and its correlation with PTSD symptom changes.
• Potential baseline predictors of sexual distress change were examined.

Main Results:

• Sexual distress significantly decreased posttreatment and at 3-month follow-up.
• Improvements in sexual distress correlated with reductions in PTSD symptoms.
• Higher pretreatment dissociation predicted less improvement in sexual distress.

Conclusions:

• CPT can improve sexual distress in survivors of interpersonal trauma.
• Dissociation may be a negative prognostic indicator for sexual distress improvement during CPT.
• Findings characterize sexual functioning changes during CPT and highlight dissociation's role.