Therapy update for women: The treatment of low libido in women using an integrated biopsychosocial approach

For men and women alike, libido represents a primary aspect of sexual health. In fact, low libido is the most frequently reported sexual concern among women. Women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and education levels report concerns about low desire. Regardless of whether a woman is actually diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), if she seeks help for the subjective experience of a decreased libido, practitioners must embrace a theoretical framework for her care. In this chapter, we explore a holistic, integrative, biopsychosocial model for such treatment. We will outline first why we believe the traditional treatment model involving a sole practitioner providing the majority of patient care does not optimally serve patients with low libido. Second, we will review some of the benefits for both patients and clinicians of practicing within a biopsychosocial treatment paradigm. Third, we will describe our particular framework for treating low libido in women. This integrated biopsychosocial treatment model addresses four quadrants of a woman's experience; namely, her physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual health, as they relate to her libido. Finally, we find eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to be a helpful therapeutic tool in these circumstances. EMDR utilizes repetitive eye movements to assist patients in exploring and processing difficult emotional material. It can be utilized for women with low libido in a variety of ways, including the exploration and redefinition of negative thinking patterns.

Book Section

English

Marianne Brandon
Andrew T. Goldstein

Brandon, M., & Goldstein, A. T. (2007). Therapy update for women: The treatment of low libido in women using an integrated biopsychosocial approach. In A. F. Owens & M. S. Tepper (Eds.), Sexual health, Volume 4: State-of-the-art treatments and research (pp. 107-130). Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers/Greenwood Publishing Group