Objective: Research about sexual fantasy has mainly focused on content and frequency of deviant sexual fantasy rather than on the use of sexual fantasy as a therapeutic tool for couples with sexual difficulties. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing literature regarding the use of sexual fantasies in clinical practice focusing on their implications for sexual deviations and for couples with sexual difficulties to provide an overview of relevant research. Design and Method: A comprehensive search of four electronic databases (Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scopus, and EBSCO) was carried out to identify literature regarding the use of sexual fantasies in clinical practice. References lists of articles were reviewed to identify additional papers. A total of 156 papers and relevant books were included in the review. Results: From the results of the current review emerged two main different theoretical traditions in-forming the use of sexual fantasies in clinical practice: behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Behavioral therapists usually would seem to deal only with conscious fantasy material; the psychoanalysts, in-stead, with all the topographic levels of fantasy production. Behavioral strategies (e.g., covert sensiti-zation, masturbatory satiation) would appear to be the predominant approach to treating sexual devia-tions. Furthermore, the results would suggest that sexual fantasies are also used for the treatment of couples with sexual difficulties to improve personal growth, couple intimacy, sexual arousal and satisfaction. Conclusions: This review would suggest the limited presence of research confirming the efficacy of behavioral strategies in the treatment of deviant sexual fantasies. Studies on the use of sexual fantasy in couple interactions also seem scarce. In light of the above, the use of sexual fantasy as a means in clinical practice deserves further studies considering alternative approaches to better understand how to improve treatments for deviant sexual behavior and sexual difficulties in couples.
THE USE OF SEXUAL FANTASY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW / Galizia, Roberta; Nimbi, Filippo M.; Rossi, Roberta; Simonelli, Chiara. - (2021). (Intervento presentato al convegno 15th congress of the European Federation of Sexology tenutosi a Virtual).
THE USE OF SEXUAL FANTASY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Roberta Galizia;Filippo M. Nimbi;Chiara Simonelli
2021
Abstract
Objective: Research about sexual fantasy has mainly focused on content and frequency of deviant sexual fantasy rather than on the use of sexual fantasy as a therapeutic tool for couples with sexual difficulties. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing literature regarding the use of sexual fantasies in clinical practice focusing on their implications for sexual deviations and for couples with sexual difficulties to provide an overview of relevant research. Design and Method: A comprehensive search of four electronic databases (Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scopus, and EBSCO) was carried out to identify literature regarding the use of sexual fantasies in clinical practice. References lists of articles were reviewed to identify additional papers. A total of 156 papers and relevant books were included in the review. Results: From the results of the current review emerged two main different theoretical traditions in-forming the use of sexual fantasies in clinical practice: behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Behavioral therapists usually would seem to deal only with conscious fantasy material; the psychoanalysts, in-stead, with all the topographic levels of fantasy production. Behavioral strategies (e.g., covert sensiti-zation, masturbatory satiation) would appear to be the predominant approach to treating sexual devia-tions. Furthermore, the results would suggest that sexual fantasies are also used for the treatment of couples with sexual difficulties to improve personal growth, couple intimacy, sexual arousal and satisfaction. Conclusions: This review would suggest the limited presence of research confirming the efficacy of behavioral strategies in the treatment of deviant sexual fantasies. Studies on the use of sexual fantasy in couple interactions also seem scarce. In light of the above, the use of sexual fantasy as a means in clinical practice deserves further studies considering alternative approaches to better understand how to improve treatments for deviant sexual behavior and sexual difficulties in couples.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
