The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Combined and Moderating Negative Cognitive Bias on Sexual Satisfaction, Sexual Intimacy in Men with Erectile Dysfunction

Low sexual satisfaction and sexual intimacy are among the functional consequences of erectile dysfunction that necessitate psychological interventions. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy combined and moderating negative cognitive bias on sexual satisfaction and sexual intimacy in men with erectile dysfunction. The method of this research was quasi-experimental (pre-test-post-test with control group).

The statistical population of this study included all men with erectile dysfunction in Isfahan in 2020 that among them, 30 people received a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction based on the entry criteria were selected as a statistical sample using available sampling and thay were randomly assigned to one experimental groups and one control group (15 people in each group) all two groups completed the International Index of Erectile Function (1997), Larson Sexual Satisfaction (1988), Botlani & et al Sexual Intimacy (2010) as a pre-test and post-test. The intervention includes eight sessions of 60 to 90 minutes (two sessions per week for four weeks) cognitive-behavioral therapy and four sessions of 60 to 90 minutes (1 session per week for four weeks) moderating negative cognitive bias in the experimental group, the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance in SPSS.23.  

Based on the findings, it was found that cognitive-behavioral therapy combined and moderating negative cognitive bias was effective on the increase sexual satisfaction and sexual intimacy in men with erectile dysfunction (p = 0.001).

Considering that combined cognitive-behavioral treatment and cognitive bias adjustment is effective in improving sexual satisfaction and sexual intimacy of men with erectile dysfunction; it seems that this method can be used as an effective intervention method in improving sexual satisfaction and sexual intimacy of men with erectile dysfunction.