An initial proof of concept: a replicated single-case study of a CBT group treatment with partner involvement for vulvodynia
Open accessAbstract
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.
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Psychological treatments based on cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance-based treatments for vulvar pain and sexual function have proved beneficial.
“Psychological treatments based on cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance-based treatments for vulvar pain and sexual function have proved beneficial. 11-13”
From Internet-based treatment for provoked vulvodynia: Factors associated with treatment outcomes (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
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- Authors
- Engman, L., Ter Kuile, M. M., Linton, S. J., Ekholm, E., Tuijnman-Raasveld, C. C., & Flink, I. K.
- Affiliations
- Örebro University (SE)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author
- Engman, Linnéa
- ORCID
- Venue
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2022-08-12
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 503-519
- ISSN
- 1650-6073 (ISSN-L)
- 1651-2316
- OpenAlex
- W4290878489
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 1.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Pelvic floor disorders treatments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- vulvodynia, cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, partner involvement, couple therapy, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, sexual function, avoidance behavior, psychological factors in pain
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pain, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sexual Behavior, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Young Adult, Vulvodynia, Catastrophization
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