Review of Treating sexual desire disorders.

Abstract

Treating Sexual Desire Disorders, by Sandra R. Leiblum (Ed.) New York: The Guilford Press, 2010, 257 pages (ISBN 978-160623-636-9, US $35.00, Hardcover) One of the most common complaints sex therapy today is a reduced or lack of interest sex; what clinicians typically refer to as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Whether lifelong, diminishing over time, and/or discrepant between partners, low sexual desire often leads to significant distress within intimate relationships. Sandra Leiblum's Treating Sexual Desire Disorders reviews a broad range of philosophical positions and treatment approaches to low sexual desire uniquely brought to life using a case study approach. This book also contains thoughtful reflections by the chapter authors regarding their personal approaches to treatment and effectiveness. In 14 chapters, Leiblum has brought together an excellent collection of contributions from 19 leading clinicians and therapists, some of them Canadians. The book begins with Leiblum' s comprehensive introduction and overview of the prevalence of sexual desire disorders, and more specifically HSDD, which is defined as a lack of desire for sexual activity. Leiblum also discusses the various factors that might contribute to waning sexual desire among couples, including issues of gender and age differences. Leiblum introduces and very briefly summarizes each subsequent chapter, giving the reader a concise idea of each contributor's approach and its benefits before the chapter author takes over. Each chapter is clear and well written, and while the book targets practicing clinicians/therapists and graduate students, even those with only a moderate understanding of sexual disorders and dysfunction will be able to appreciate the useful techniques and advice presented. Each chapter has a different contributing author, who begins by describing his or her therapeutic technique and its rationale detail, and then demonstrates how the treatment is practically applied using a case study. The case studies throughout the book are generally well balanced terms of gender, culture, religion, and sexual orientation. Given the philosophical stance of each contributor, the specifics highlighted each case study draw the reader's attention toward background and foreground details that are most relevant for the therapeutic approach being articulated. This allows the reader insight into how the clinician or therapist believes the difficulties with sexual desire arise, and why they facilitate treatment the way that they do. For example, Chapter 4, the woman seeking treatment, Andrea, is described as having experienced sexual abuse as a child. She feels guilty, however, because she did not put a stop to the abuse, and consequently ignores her sexual feelings as an adult. The author focuses on helping Andrea understand that she deserves to be sexual and to experience arousal. This gives Andrea the freedom and permission to discover her own sexual desire, which leads to more frequent and satisfying sex with her partner. Each case study concludes with a follow-up discussion, which reveals the longer-term effectiveness of the treatment approach. The majority of chapters focus on psychological treatments for sexual desire disorders; however, some biological and hormonal treatments are also discussed. The chapters on biological/hormonal approaches to low sexual desire help broaden the book's appeal beyond mental health practitioners, to physicians and medical professionals who also regularly deal with sexual difficulties. This inclusion highlights the importance of an integrated approach moving forward. One of the main strengths of this book is the use of case studies to illustrate the diverse approaches to treating sexual desire concerns. Rather than each therapeutic approach being explained objectively a cookbook approach, we see each approach in action as it deals with a specific case. …