“Does sex therapy work? How can we know?” Measuring outcomes in sex therapy

Abstract

We are still left with the issue of characterising what counts as successful outcome in sex therapy. The aim of this paper is to report the progress of the outcome measurement project initiated by the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists. In this report, I have reviewed the existing literature to answer the following question: “Does there currently exist a validated evaluation tool (or a package of tools) by which the effectiveness and success of sex therapy in dealing with sexual problems can be measured and demonstrated?”. I start with discussing some of the key dilemmas in relation to measuring outcomes in sex therapy and arrive at a conceptual framework to address this. I finish with suggesting a few measurement tools that can be utilised in this regard.

Keywords:

• outcome measures
• sex therapy
• sexual satisfaction
• sexual confidence
• quality of life

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Ruth Hallam-Jones for supervising this work, and the management and trustee board of the COSRT for their support and reflections.

Notes on contributor

Alireza Tabatabaie (MD, PGDip SRT, COSRT Acc, MPhil, PhD(c), FECSM) is a medical doctor and COSRT accredited sex and relationship therapist. He is currently a researcher at the University of Cambridge, UK, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT).