ABSTRACT

Vulvodynia is common and has an immense impact on affected women and their partners. Psychological factors have been found to contribute to pain maintenance and exacerbation, and treatments addressing psychological factors have yielded positive results. This study employed a replicated single-case experimental design to examine a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) group treatment with partner involvement in vulvodynia. Repeated measures of pain intensity related to pain-inflicting behaviors were collected weekly throughout baseline and treatment phases. Associated outcomes were measured pre-, post- and at two follow-up assessments. Participants were 18–45-year-old women, in a stable sexual relationship with a man, experiencing vulvodynia. Five women completed the treatment consisting of 10 group sessions and 3 couple sessions. Data were analyzed through visual inspection and supplementary nonparametric calculations. The study showed promising results of the CBT treatment in alleviating pain intensity in connection to specific pain-inflicting behavior since three out of five participants showed improvements. For the participants who improved, sexual function, pain catastrophizing, avoidance, and endurance behavior changed during treatment and were maintained at follow-ups. These results warrant further study of the CBT treatment, in larger, and controlled formats.

摘要

外阴痛很常见，对受影响的妇女及其伴侣产生巨大影响。已经发现心理因素有助于疼痛的维持和恶化，针对心理因素的治疗已经产生了积极的结果。本研究采用重复的单病例实验设计来检查伴侣参与外阴痛的认知行为疗法 (CBT) 团体治疗。在基线和治疗阶段每周收集与疼痛行为相关的疼痛强度的重复测量值。在两次后续评估之前、之后和之后测量相关结果。参与者是 18-45 岁的女性，与男性保持稳定的性关系，经历外阴痛。五名女性完成了包括 10 次小组治疗和 3 次夫妻治疗的治疗。通过目视检查和补充非参数计算分析数据。该研究显示了 CBT 治疗在减轻与特定引起疼痛的行为相关的疼痛强度方面的可喜结果，因为五分之三的参与者表现出改善。对于改善的参与者，性功能、灾难性疼痛、回避和耐力行为在治疗期间发生了变化，并在随访中保持不变。这些结果值得进一步研究 CBT 治疗，以更大和受控的形式。性功能、灾难性疼痛、回避和耐力行为在治疗期间发生了变化，并在随访中保持不变。这些结果值得进一步研究 CBT 治疗，以更大和受控的形式。性功能、灾难性疼痛、回避和耐力行为在治疗期间发生了变化，并在随访中保持不变。这些结果值得进一步研究 CBT 治疗，以更大和受控的形式。