New Sex Therapy: Active Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions

In recent years, the work of Kinsey, Masters and Johnson, and other investigators has led to tremendous advances in our understanding of human sexuality. This increased understanding is currently being translated into innovative new approaches to the treatment of sexually dysfunctional men and women, with often dramatic results in relieving the distressing sexual symptoms of countless individuals who were formerly beyond help, even with years of costly psychotherapy.

Now a noted psychiatrist and specialist in the new sex therapy describes for the first time the new treatment of the sexual dysfunctions, providing a clear picture of the entire process of treatment, as well as conceptualizing the theory underlying it. The author's method is unique in that it represents an integration of psychoanalytic and sex therapy techniques. It treats the couple on an outpatient basis and is applicable to office practice, as well; it focuses on relief of the sexual problem and attaining improved sexual functioning; and it is multicausal and eclectic in orientation-combining psychoanalytic and learning theories and techniques through the integration of assigned sexual tasks (which the couple conducts at home) with conjoint psychotherapeutic sessions in the doctor's office. Treatment is usually brief, requiring only six to fifteen visits for most couples.

This comprehensive volume covers the anatomy and physiology of the sexual response, including the role of hormones and the brain (with 13 anatomical and schematic illustrations); the biological and psychological causes of sexual dysfunction; and the basic principles and procedures of sex therapy.

Discarding the pejorative terms "impotence" and "frigidity," the author classifies the six major sexual dysfunctions as: in Men -- Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation, and Retarded Ejaculation; in Women -- General Sexual Dysfunction, Orgastic Dysfunction, and Vaginismus. For each of these, the author describes the immediate and deeper causes, the specific sexual tasks assigned, the therapist/couple interaction in the therapeutic sessions, and the results of treatment. Thirty-nine detailed case studies supplement the text, and seven drawings by internationally-known artist Betty Dodson illustrate the sexual tasks most frequently prescribed.

Another major contribution of this volume is a group of tables showing the effects on male and female sexuality of a broad spectrum of drugs and physical illnesses. The interrelationship of sexual dysfunction and marital discord, contraindications for sex therapy, the handling of psychiatric disorders in patient or partner, and the qualifications of sex therapists are among the many ramifications of the new sex therapy which are analyzed by Dr. Kaplan.

Evidence now suggests," she says, "that sexual problems, while they may of course be manifestations of profound emotional disturbance or mental_illness, are not invariably so, but also commonly occur in persons who function well in other areas and have no other psychological symptoms....For many patients the new brief forms of intervention are far more effective than the traditional psychiatric approaches."

In sum, this is a comprehensive and highly professional volume which places treatment of the sexual dysfunctions on a solid, scientific basis.