Effects of Early Abuse on Adult Intimate Relationships

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study is designed to help us better understand the factors that affect the sexual lives of women who have been sexually mistreated during childhood. With this study we hope to learn about factors that may be promising targets for future treatments of sexual problems related to past sexual experiences. The investigators hypothesize that women who have experienced early sexual abuse are more likely to have sexual problems in adulthood than women who were not abuse in childhood.

Official Title
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Effects of Early Abuse on Adult Intimate Relationships

Conditions
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Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder, Female Orgasmic Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Expressive writing


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: at least one involuntary sexual experience, defined as unwanted oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse, penetration of the vagina or anus using objects or digits, or genital touching or fondling, before age 16 and no less than 2 years prior to enrollment. currently sexually active or cohabiting in a potentially sexual relationship. current sexual dysfunction, distress, or low sexual satisfaction Exclusion Criteria: traumatic event in the previous three months sexual abuse in the past two years diagnosis of a psychotic disorder in the previous six months significant suicidal or homicidal intent currently receiving psychotherapy for sexual or abuse-related concerns use of illicit drugs in a currently abusive relationship

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Placebo Comparator: Time management<br>Writing prompts oriented towards objective recounting of previous day | Behavioral: Expressive writing<br>* Five sessions of 30 minutes of expressive writing<br>|
| Experimental: Sexual schema writing<br>Expressive writing prompts oriented towards beliefs about sexuality | Behavioral: Expressive writing<br>* Five sessions of 30 minutes of expressive writing<br>|
| Active Comparator: Trauma writing<br>Expressive writing prompts oriented towards processing traumatic experiences | Behavioral: Expressive writing<br>* Five sessions of 30 minutes of expressive writing<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sexual Dysfunction Interview | Clinical classification of Female Sexual Dysfunctions including Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder, and/or Female Orgasm Disorder | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Depression | As measured by clinical interview and validated questionnaires | 6 months | 
| Post-Traumatic Stress | As measured by clinical interview and validated questionnaires | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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childhood sexual abuse, depression, PTSD, sexual function, women