The Influence of Profession and Therapy Type on the Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions

Abstract

Sexual dysfunctions are serious mental health issues that affect an estimated 1 in 3 Americans, yet many people with sexual dysfunctions do not seek treatment. Health services research on variables related to access, barriers, costs, and outcomes of treatment may help improve the quality of care. The current research is a retrospective analysis of administrative data from CIGNA that explores whether the type of profession (i.e., psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor) or therapy modality (i.e., individual, conjoint, or mixed-mode, a combination of individual and conjoint therapy) influence the outcomes of mental health treatment. Participants included 230 men and 189 women between the ages of 18 to 101 years from all regions of the United States who received treatment for sexual disorders from 2001 to 2006. Results indicate that outcomes are similar across the different license types. Results also suggest that mixed-mode therapy has lower dropout rates and longer retention than individual or conjoint therapy. These results suggest that using a combination of relational and individual sessions may be beneficial for the treatment of sexual dysfunctions.