Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Physical Therapy for Provoked Vestibulodynia

Queen's University

Status

Completed

Conditions

Vulvar Vestibulitis

Treatments

Behavioral: physical therapy

Behavioral: cognitive-behavioural therapy

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT02494934

379631

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and physical therapy (PT) on pain and psychosexual outcomes in women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD).

Full description

Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is the most common condition leading to painful intercourse and is currently best understood within a biopsychosocial framework. Although the usefulness of non-medical treatment options for vulvar pain is recognized by many, there is limited research investigating the effectiveness of these treatments using a biopsychosocial approach to outcome measurement. Furthermore, there is little evidence to support the mechanisms by which these treatments lead to pain reduction. This study aimed to address these gaps by investigating two non-medical treatment options: individual cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and physical therapy (PT).

Enrollment

20 patients

Sex

Female

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

fluent in English
vulvar pain with attempted vaginal penetration for at least 6 months
pain limited to vulvar vestibule during cotton swab test

Exclusion criteria

other serious medical, psychiatric, or other pain conditions
generalized vulvodynia and/or significant vaginismus (i.e., not able to have at least one finger inserted vaginally)
current pregnancy, breastfeeding, or being less than 6 months postpartum
unwillingness to abstain from other treatments for their PVD pain during the course of the study