ARTICLE INFO

Article Type

Original Research

Authors

Shamkoeyan   L (1)
Lotfi Kashani   F (*)
Seyrafi   MR (1)
Ahadi   H (1)
Kavosi   H (2)






(*) Department of Psychology, Roudhen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudhen, Iran
(1) Department of Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
(2) Rheumatology Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Correspondence

Address: Department of Psychology, Roudhen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudhen, Iran
Phone: +98 (21) 88070642
Fax: +98 (21) 88070642

Article History

Received:   February  8, 2018
Accepted:   May 23, 2018
ePublished:   July 23, 2018

ABSTRACT

Aims Systemic scleroderma is a multiple chronic autoimmune disease that has important clinical and psychological consequences, including sexual dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of integrated treatment group on sexual function and its domains in women with scleroderma.
Materials & Methods This research was a semi-experimental design with pretest, post-test, and follow-up with the experimental and control groups. The statistical population included women with scleroderma referred to Shariati Hospital in Tehran and Iran's Rheumatism Center in the second half of 2017. Of these, 30 patients were selected as available samples and randomly were placed in the control and the experimental groups. The experimental group was subjected to an integrated approach intervention in 9 sessions of 90-minutes, where as the control group did not receive such an intervention. The instrument of this study was the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS24 software and repeated measures ANOVA.
Findings Unilateral psychotherapy intervention significantly increased the mean post-test of sexual function and its six sub-components in both control and experimental groups (p<0.01, F=19.59). The satisfaction component with 0.82 (p<0.01, F=125.35) and psychological stimulation with 0.74 (F=77.9, p<0.01) had the most effect on intervention, and the component of orgasm with 0.33 (F=13.54, p<0.01) had the least effect among the components. After three months, there was no statistically significant difference between the post-test and the follow-up of the experimental group, which indicated the stability of intervention effects.
Conclusion Unified psychotherapy is effective in increasing the sexual function of patients with systemic sclerosis and can play a significant role in improving the quality of life of these people.

Keywords: Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) , Sexual Function, Integrative Psychotherapy,

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