| Recent studies have estimated that at least 30% of pre-menopausal women world-wide experience Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD) at some point in their adult life. Pharmaceutical companies have funded studies on medical solutions to this issue, attempting to treat the symptoms of the disorder. Considering the dearth of promising results in the area of medical treatments of symptoms, what is needed is a careful analysis of the proposed etiologies of this disorder and links to treatment effectiveness. This integrative literature review began by examining experimental data on treatments and interventions for this disorder. It then explored the factors that differentiate "normal" sexual arousal between women and men. One fundamental issue present in FSAD is a particular type of disconnection between cognitive and bodily processes. Interventions that address this disconnection have been psychological in nature and draw from diverse subfields within psychology, including mindfulness-based treatments, cognitive therapy, psycho-education and somatic therapy. Given the prevalence of FSAD, and its detrimental impacts on partnerships and individuals, therapists should be able to educate and inform themselves on the nature of this disorder, and the treatments that have demonstrated effectiveness. Towards this end, the current integrative literature review is a consolidated, educational resource to treatment providers of women struggling with FSAD as well as researchers studying treatment improvements. This approach has been chosen for its feasibility in attempting to submit a coherent model linking etiology and treatment outcomes, which does not currently exist. Methods include a comprehensive literature review of the historical context of female sexual models, advances in the scientific community's understanding of differences between men and women in terms of arousal, moderating factors of arousal, the evolutionary functions of impediments, analysis of treatments, and a discussion of future directions for research. If researchers and clinicians have an accurate understanding of this disorder, progress in the area of treatments and preventative measures can be facilitated, funded, and applied. |
