Clinical Sexology

Code:

PCS15

Acronym:

SC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
CNAEF	Psychology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MPSI	21	Plano Oficial do ano letivo 2021	1	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students
Obs.: Será disponibilizada literatura e materiais de apoio em Inglês

Objectives

The Curricular Unit in Clinical Sexology aims to promote knowledge on the topic of the problems associated with sexuality and to develop skills in assessment, diagnosis, and clinical intervention in the various disorders of sexual functioning. 

Learning outcomes and competences

As learning outcomes and competences students should:

- Recognize sexual health as an important dimension for people's general well-being and quality of life.

- Know, identify, and characterize the different sexual disorders according to the main classification and diagnostic systems (e.g., DSM, ICD).

- Know the main data on the epidemiology, comorbidity, and socio-demographic predictors of sexual disorders.

- Identify the objectives, process, and different methods of assessing sexual disorders.

- Know the main etiological factors and biopsychosocial conceptualization models of sexual disorders.

- Know the main therapeutic intervention strategies for sexual disorders.

- Know the specificities surrounding sexual and gender diversity.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

NA

Program

 I - SEXUAL DISORDERS: DEFINITION, CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMORBIDITY

1. History and evolution of classification systems for sexual disorders
2. Clinical description and diagnostic criteria for sexual disorders according to DSM-5-TR
3. Controversial issues in the diagnosis of sexual disorders and proposals for alternative classification systems
4. Epidemiology and comorbidity of sexual disorders

II - ASSESSMENT OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS

1. Objectives of the assessment 
2. Methods of assessment
        . Clinical interview
        . Self-report questionnaires
        . Medical assessment
        . Physiological assessment
3. Integration of assessment data


III - CONCEPTUALIZATION AND INTERVENTION MODELS FOR SEXUAL DISORDERS

1. Biomedical model vs Biopsychosocial model
2. Psychological conceptualization models of sexual disorders
       . Masters and Johnson and the classic psychophysiological model,
       . Helen Kaplan classic model,
       . Barlow and the cognitive-affective model,
       . Baker's cognitive-behavioral model,
       . Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia's cognitive-emotional model

IV - PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION FOR SEXUAL DISORDERS

1. The PLISSIT model,
2. Objectives of therapeutic intervention
3. Therapeutic intervention strategies
4. Studies on the therapeutic efficacy of sexual therapies
5. New approaches to the intervention of sexual disorders

V - SEXUAL AND GENDER DIVERSITY: THEORETICAL ASPECTS AND AFFIRMATIVE INTERVENTION

Mandatory literature

Nobre P. J.; Nobre P. J. (2006). Disfunções Sexuais: Teoria, investigação e tratamento. Lisboa: Climepsi
Soares, C., & Nobre, P. J. ; (2013). Sexual Problems and psychotherapy in Portugal. In Kathryn Hall and Cynthia Graham (Eds.) The Cultural Context of Sexual Pleasure and Problems: Psychotherapy with Diverse Clients. (pp. 278-306). Routledge
Fonseca, L., Soares, C., & Vaz, M. ; Fonseca, L., Soares, C., & Vaz, M. (2003), A sexologia: Perspectiva multidisciplinar. Coimbra: Quarteto Editora.
Leiblum, S. R., & Rosen, R. C. ; (2000). Principles and practice of sex therapy (3th ed., pp. 276-304). New York: Guilford Press.
Wincze, J. P., & Carey, M. P. ; (2001). Sexual dysfunction: A guide for assessment and treatment (2ª ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Nobre, P. J.; Nobre, P. J. (in press). Male Sexual Dysfunctions. In Stefan Hoffman (Ed.) CBT: A Complete Reference Guide. Wiley-Blackwell
Pascoal, P.M., Vilarinho, S., Moita, G. (…) (Ed) ; Intervenção Psicológica em Sexologia Clínica, Pactor, 2023

Teaching methods and learning activities

 The course's theoretical component is mainly geared towards explaining the main themes of the syllabus. Practical teaching methods include: 1) reading and discussing clinical cases to develop critical clinical discussion, assessment, and intervention skills, 2) discussing and debating topics in class, and 3) Role-playing for training clinical assessment skills.

 

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Teste	60,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	30,00
Frequência das aulas	30,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

 

The evaluation will include a practical component (CP) and a theoretical component (CT).  The practical component (CP) is 40% of the final grade in the course and will be evaluated through a practical assignment. The theoretical component (CT) is 60% of the final grade in the course and will be evaluated through a written test.

 

To obtain approval, students are expected to comply with each of the following criteria:

 

1. Obtain a final grade equal to or greater than 9.5; 

 

2. Obtain the following minimum scores in each component:

 

a. minimum of 9,5 values in the practical component

 

b. minimum of 9,5 values in final written test

 

3. Perform all proposed evaluation components.

Calculation formula of final grade

 

FINAL SCORE = (CP * 0.40) + (CT * 0.60)

Examinations or Special Assignments

NA

Internship work/project

NA

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

NA

Classification improvement

 

Students can improve the final grades. In this case the final exam will count 60% and the practical work will count 40% for the final grade.

 

Observations

 Bibliography (recommended):

Hall, K.S. & Binik, Y. (2000). Principles and practice of sex therapy (6th ed). New York: Guilford Press.

Leiblum, S. R., & Rosen, R. C. (2000). Principles and practice of sex therapy (3th ed., pp. 276-304). New York: Guilford Press.

Nobre P. J. (2006). Disfunções Sexuais: Teoria, investigação e tratamento. Lisboa: Climepsi

Pascoal, P.M., Vilarinho, S., Moita, G. (…) (Ed) (2023). Intervenção Psicológica em Sexologia Clínica. Lisboa: Pactor

Peterson, Z. D. (2017). The Wiley Handbook of Sex Therapy. Wiley-Blackwell

 Wincze, J. P., & Carey, M. P. (2001). Sexual dysfunction: A guide for assessment and treatment (2ª ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

 

Detailed Bibliography

 

Classics

 

Bancroft, J. (2008). Human sexuality and its problems (3ª ed.). Edinburgh, Scotland: Churchill Livingstone.

Gomes, F. A., Albuquerque, A., & Nunes, S. (1987). Sexologia em Portugal. Vol 1. Lisboa:      Sociedade editora e distribuidora de livros Lda.

 

Gomes, F. A., Albuquerque, A., & Nunes, S. (1987). Sexologia em Portugal. Vol 2, Lisboa:      Sociedade editora e distribuidora de livros Lda.

 

Kaplan, H. S. (1974). The new sex therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

 

Kaplan, H. S. (1979). Disorders of sexual desire. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

 

Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., & Martin, C. E. (1948). Sexual behavior in the human male. Philadelphia: Saunders

 

Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., Martin, C. E., & Gebhard, P. H. (1953). Sexual behavior in the human female. Philadelphia: Saunders

 

Leiblum, S. R., & Rosen, R. C. (2000). Principles and practice of sex therapy (3th ed., pp. 276-304). New York: Guilford Press.

 

Masters, W. H., & Johnson, V. E. (1966). Human sexual response. Boston: Little, Brown.

 

Masters, W. H., & Johnson, V. E. (1970). Human sexual inadequacy. Boston: Little, Brown.

 

Rosen, R. C., & Leiblum, S. R. (1992). Erectile disorders: Assessment and treatment. New York: Guilford Press.

 

Rosen, R. C., & Leiblum, S. R. (1995). Case studies in sex therapy. New York: Guilford Press.

 

Wincze, J. P., & Carey, M. P. (2001). Sexual dysfunction: A guide for assessment and treatment (2ª ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

 

Zilbergeld, B. (1999). The new male sexuality:  (rev. ed.). New York: Bantam.

 

Sexual Dysfunction: Definition and Classification 

    

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., Text Revision).Washington, DC: Author.

 

Basson, R. (2000). The female sexual response: A different model. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy. 26, 51-65.

 

Basson, R., Berman, J., Burnett, A., Derogatis, L., Ferguson, D., Fourcroy, J., et al. (2001). Report of the international consensus development conference on female sexual dysfunction: Definitions and classifications, Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 27, 83-94.

 

World Health Organization (1992). The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. Geneve: Author.

 

Segraves, R. T. (2001). Historical and international context of nosology of female sexual disorders. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy. 27, 205-207.

 

Epidemiology and Comorbidity of Sexual Dysfunction 

 

Laumann, E. O., Paik, A., & Rosen, R. C. (1999). Sexual dysfunction in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association, 281, 537-544.

 

Gomes, F. A., Fonseca, L., & Gomes, A. A. (1997). Comorbilidade psiquiátrica nas disfunções sexuais. Acta Portuguesa de Sexologia, (2), 1, 17-20.

 

Rosen, R. C., Taylor, J., Leiblum, S. R., & Bachmann, G. (1993). Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women: Results of a survey study in 329 women in a outpatient gynecological clinic. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 19, 171-188.

 

Spector, I. P., & Carey, M. P. (1990). Incidence and prevalence of the sexual dysfunction: A critical review of the empirical literature. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 19, 389-408.

 

Assessmnt of Sexual Dysfunction                                            

Buvat, J., Buvat-Herbaut, M., Lemaire, A., Marcolin, G., Quittelier, E. (1990). Recent developments in the clinical assessment and diagnosis of erectile dysfunction. Annual Review of Sex Research, 1, 265-308

 

Derogatis, L. R., & Melisaratos, N. (1979). The DSFI: A multidimensional measure of sexual functioning. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 5, 244-281.

 

Nobre, P. J. & Pinto-Gouveia (2010). Sexual dysfunctional beliefs questionnaire. In Terry Fisher, Clive Davis, William Yarber, and Sandra Davis (Eds.) Handbook of Sexuality-Related Measures (3nd ed.) (pp 102-106). Taylor & Francis

 

Nobre, P. J. & Pinto-Gouveia (2010). Sexual modes questionnaire. In Terry Fisher, Clive Davis, William Yarber, and Sandra Davis (Eds.) Handbook of Sexuality-Related Measures (3nd ed.) (pp. 106-110).. Taylor & Francis

 

Nobre, P. J. & Pinto-Gouveia (2010). Questionnaire of cognitive schema activation in sexual context. In Terry Fisher, Clive Davis, William Yarber, and Sandra Davis (Eds.) Handbook of Sexuality-Related Measures (3nd ed.) (pp. 614-617). Taylor & Francis

 

Rosen, R. C., Brown, C., Heiman, J., Leiblum, S., Meston, C., Shabsig, R., et al. (2000). The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): A multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 26, 191-208.

 

Rosen, R. C., Riley, A., Wagner, G., Osterloh, I.H., Kirkpatrck, J., & Mishra, A. (1997). The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF): A multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction. Urology, 49, 822-830.

Sbrocco, T., Weisberg, R. B., & Barlow, D. H. (1992). Sexual Dysfunction Inventory (SDI). Unpublished semistructured interview, Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, Albany, NY.

 

Etiology of Sexual Dsyfunctions

 

Baker, C. D. & de Silva, P. (1988). The relationship between male sexual dysfunction and belief in Zilbergeld’s myths: An empirical investigation. Sexual and Marital Therapy, 3, 229-238.

 

Barlow, D. H. (1986). Causes of sexual dysfunction: The role of anxiety and cognitive interference. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 140-148.

 

de Silva, P. (1998). Sexual problems: Dysfunction. In A. Bellack & M. Hersen (Series Eds.), & P. Salkovskis (Vol. Ed.), Comprehensive clinical psychology: Vol. 6. Adults: clinical formulation & treatment (pp. 604-621). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers.

 

McCabe, M. P., & Cobain, M. J. (1998). The impact of individual and relationship factors on sexual dysfunction among males and females. Sexual and Marital Therapy, 13, 131-143.

 

Modelos de Conceptualização Psicológica das Disfunções Sexuais

 

 

Baker, C. D. (1993). A cognitive-behavioural model for the formulation and treatment of sexual dysfunction. In J. M. Ussher and C. D. Baker (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on sexual problems (pp. 110-128). London: Routledge.

 

Cranston-Cuebas, M. A., & Barlow, D. H. (1990). Cognitive and affective contributions to sexual functioning. Annual Review of Sex Research, 1, 119-161.

 

Nobre, P. J., & Pinto-Gouveia, J. (2000). Erectile dysfunction: an empirical approach based on Beck’s cognitive theory. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 15, 351-366.

 

Sbrocco, T., & Barlow, D. H. (1996). Conceptualizing the cognitive component of sexual arousal: Implications for sexuality research and treatment. In P. M. Salkovskis (Ed.), Frontiers of cognitive therapy (pp. 419-449). New York: Guilford Press.

 

Empirically supported interventions

 

 

Althof, S. E. (2000). Erectile dysfunction: Psychotherapy with men and couples. In S. R. Leiblum & R. C. Rosen (Eds.), Principles and practice of sex therapy (3th ed., pp. 242-275). New York: Guilford Press.

 

Bach, A. K., Wincze, J. P., & Barlow, D. H. (2001). Sexual dysfunction. In D. H. Barlow (Ed.), Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders: A step by step treatment manual (3ª ed., pp. 562-608). New York: Guilford Press.

 

Carey, M. P., Wincze, J. P., & Meisler, A. W. (1993). Sexual dysfunction: Male erectile disorder. In D. H. Barlow (Ed.), Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders: A step by step treatment manual (2ª ed., pp. 442-480). New York: Guilford Press.

 

Hawton, K. (1985). Sex therapy: A pratical guide. Northvale, NJ: Aronson

 

Heiman, J. R., & Meston, C. M. (1997). Empirically validated treatment for sexual dysfunction. Annual Review of Sex Research, 8, 148-194.

 

McCabe, M. P. (2001). Evaluation of a cognitive behavior therapy program for people with sexual dysfunction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 27, 259-271.

 

Nobre, P. J. (no prelo). Male Sexual Dysfunctions. In Stefan Hoffman (Ed.) CBT: A Complete Reference Guide.Wiley-Blackwell

 

Rosen, R. C. (2000). Medical and psychological interventions for erectile dysfunction: Toward a combined treatment approach. In S. R. Leiblum & R. C. Rosen (Eds.), Principles and practice of sex therapy (3th ed., pp. 276-304). New York: Guilford Press.

 

Rosen, R. C., Leiblum, S. R., & Spector, I. (1994). Psychologically based treatment for male erectile disorder: A cognitive-interpersonal model. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 20, 67-85.

 

Wincze, J. P., & Barlow, D. H. (1997). Enhancing sexuality: A problem solving approach (therapist guide). Albany, NY: Graywind.

 

Self-Help Books

Heiman, J. R., & LoPiccolo, J. (1988). Becoming orgasmic: A sexual and personal growth program for women (rev. ed.). New York: Prentice-Hall.

Rodrigues, O. M. (2001), Aprimorando a saúde sexual: Manual de técnicas de terapia sexual. São Paulo: Summus Editorial.

 

The future of Sexology

 

Bancroft, J. (1999). Sexual science in the 21st century: Where are we going? A personal note. The Journal of Sex Research, 36, 226-229.

Gomes, F. A. (2002). Sexualidade, sexologia e medicina. Psiquiatria Clínica, 23, 7-16.

Hawton, K. (1992). Sex therapy research: As it withered in the vine? Annual Review of Sex Research, 3, 49-72.

Leiblum, S. R., & Rosen, R. C. (2000). Introduction: Sex therapy in the age of viagra. In S. R. Leiblum & R. C. Rosen (Eds.), Principles and practice of sex therapy (3th ed., pp. 1-13). New York: Guilford Press.

Tiefer, L. (1994). The three crises facing sexology. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 23, 361-374.

Tiefer, L. (1996). The medicalization of sexuality: Conceptual, normative, and professional issues. Annual Review of Sex Research, 7, 252-282.