Therapy for sexual and relationship problems: The effects on outcome of attending as an individual or as a couple

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Abstract
Sexual relationships are inherently interpersonal and it is a general clinical assumption that couples attending treatment together have a higher likelihood of a good outcome than individuals being treated by themselves for the same problems. Yet, as Mohr & Beutler (1990) point out, there have been no outcome studies to compare the effectiveness of treatment for individuals without a current partner, individuals whose partner does not attend, or couples attending together. This study found that the best predictor of outcome…over diagnostic, demographic and treatment variables…was mode of attendance. Good outcomes were found in 90% of patients without a relationship and in 84% of patients treated as a couple, but only 51% of patients whose partners did not attend. Furthermore, for this group of patients attending without their partners, the biggest predictors of poor outcome or premature termination from treatment were psychological, rather than organic, aetiology and high scores on the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems. Implications for future research and current best clinical practice are discussed.