Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Female Sexual Arousal Disorder
Condition: Female Sexual Arousal Disorder
MeSH terms: Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Low resting heart rate variability (HRV) has been associated with sexual arousal problems and
      overall sexual dysfunction in women. Research has indicated that HRV biofeedback leads to
      increases in HRV as well as improvements in symptoms associated with several psychological
      disorders, some of which are comorbid with sexual arousal problems in women. Autogenic
      training also facilitates increases in HRV and was recently associated with acute increases
      in sexual arousal among sexually healthy women. The primary aim of the current study is to
      examine the efficacy of HRV biofeedback, with and without autogenic training, for the
      treatment of female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD).
    

Detailed description: 
      Women who meet ICD-10-CM diagnostic criteria for FSAD will be recruited and randomized into
      one of three conditions, HRV biofeedback (n = 25), HRV biofeedback plus autogenic training (n
      = 25), or wait-list control (n = 15). All participants will complete a baseline assessment,
      during which their resting state HRV and vaginal pulse amplitude (VPA) will be measured. The
      participants in the two biofeedback conditions will receive training in HRV biofeedback from
      the experimenter, and they will be provided with the materials necessary to guide
      self-practice in HRV biofeedback at home. Participants in these two conditions will be
      instructed to engage in at-home HRV biofeedback (with or without autogenic training) at least
      5 times over a period of two weeks, during which they will report levels of arousal in a
      sexual activity diary. Participants in the wait-list control condition will report levels of
      arousal in a sexual activity diary. After two weeks, participants in all three conditions
      will return to the laboratory, where their physiological and psychological sexual arousal
      will be measured. Over the next two weeks, participants in the two biofeedback conditions
      will be asked to complete 5 more self-guided biofeedback sessions along with the sexual
      activity diary. Participants in all three conditions will return to the lab for a final
      assessment to measure post-treatment HRV and VPA levels as well as psychological sexual
      arousal. To our knowledge, this study will be the first randomized controlled trial of HRV
      biofeedback in women with sexual arousal problems. If the intervention increases arousal in
      this population, this study may offer a promising cost-effective psychosocial treatment for
      women with sexual arousal problems.
    

Intervention name(s): HRV Biofeedback; Autogenic Training
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): At-home heart rate variability biofeedback using Elite HRV app and Polar H7 chest strap; Autogenic training recording provided on a CD
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Treatment