Thai Helen, Borg Charmaine, Binik Yitzchak M, Sinai Marco
Department of Psychology, McGill University, 2001 McGill College Avenue, Montreal, QC, H3A 1G1, Canada.
Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Arch Sex Behav. 2025 Jan;54(1):389-398. doi: 10.1007/s10508-024-03044-8. Epub 2024 Nov 29.
This single-case study examines the psychotherapeutic journey of a 23-year-old woman experiencing a persistent and long-standing fear of emotional intimacy and aversion to physical intimacy, which led to the active avoidance of sexual encounters, psychological distress, and interpersonal difficulties. Over 26 one-hour sessions, an integrative therapeutic approach was employed, combining elements from psychodynamic, acceptance and commitment, cognitive-behavioral, and exposure therapies, with psychoeducation and sex education playing pivotal roles. The treatment resulted in significant improvements, as evidenced by both quantitative and qualitative assessments. Quantitative measures of emotional distress-specifically anxiety, depression, and fear of intimacy-initially increased during intentional exposure but showed significant improvements at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. Qualitative data revealed enhancements in self-concept, increased self-compassion, and improved social functioning aligned with the individual's life aspirations. This case study highlights effective therapeutic strategies for addressing sexual aversion in young adults and demonstrates the potential for alleviating symptoms and enriching quality of life through an integrative approach.
这项单病例研究考察了一名23岁女性的心理治疗历程，她长期存在对情感亲密的恐惧以及对身体亲密的厌恶，这导致她主动回避性接触、出现心理困扰和人际困难。在超过26次为时一小时的治疗过程中，采用了综合治疗方法，融合了心理动力疗法、接纳与承诺疗法、认知行为疗法和暴露疗法的要素，同时心理教育和性教育发挥了关键作用。治疗取得了显著改善，这在定量和定性评估中均得到了证明。情绪困扰的定量指标——特别是焦虑、抑郁和对亲密关系的恐惧——在有意暴露期间最初有所增加，但在6个月和1年的随访中显示出显著改善。定性数据显示，自我概念得到增强，自我同情增加，社会功能改善，与个人的生活期望相符。本案例研究突出了针对年轻人性厌恶问题的有效治疗策略，并证明了通过综合方法缓解症状和丰富生活质量的潜力。
