Catherine Connaughton

Editorial Comment on “Psychology Treatment Trials for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: A Sexual Medicine Critique and Perspective”

Pyke and Clayton present a useful evaluation of the literature on the effectiveness of psychological treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). The title should indicate that only treatment for female HSDD was evaluated. It is important to evaluate the rigor of these interventions and so determine the strength of the evidence to support their effectiveness. This is particularly the case given the current support for a combination of medical and psychological interventions for a range of sexual dysfunctions, including HSDD among women [1].

Conceptualization of the Sexual Response Models in Men: Are There Differences Between Sexually Functional and Dysfunctional Men?

INTRODUCTION Research to validate models of sexual response empirically in men with and without sexual dysfunction (MSD), as currently defined, is limited. AIM To explore the extent to which the traditional linear or the Basson circular model best represents male sexual response for men with MSD and sexually functional men. METHODS In total, 573 men completed an online questionnaire to assess sexual function and aspects of the models of sexual response. In total, 42.2% of men (242) were sexually functional, and 57.8% (331) had at least one MSD. Models were built and tested using bootstrapping and structural equation modeling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Fit of models for men with and without MSD. RESULTS The linear model and the initial circular model were a poor fit for men with and without MSD. A modified version of the circular model demonstrated adequate fit for the two groups and showed important interactions between psychological factors and sexual response for men with and without MSD. CONCLUSION Male sexual response was not represented by the linear model for men with or without MSD, excluding possible healthy responsive desire. The circular model provided a better fit for the two groups of men but demonstrated that the relations between psychological factors and phases of sexual response were different for men with and without MSD as currently defined.

Healthy me: A gender-specific program to address body image concerns and risk factors among preadolescents

This study evaluated a gender-specific, school-based program to promote positive body image and address risk factors for body dissatisfaction. In total, 652 children aged 8-10 years participated (335 intervention, 317 wait-list control). Children participated in four 60min sessions and a recap session at three months post-intervention. The broad content areas were body image, peer relationships, media awareness, healthy diet, and exercise. The activities and examples for each session were gender specific. The recap session was an overview of the four sessions. Assessment measures were completed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and after the recap. Boys and girls in the intervention demonstrated higher muscle esteem and vegetable intake at post-intervention, compared to children in the control condition. Boys and girls demonstrated higher body esteem, muscle esteem and fruit and vegetable intake at the recap. Boys in the intervention demonstrated less investment in masculine gender norms at post-intervention and at recap.

Sexual dysfunction and relationship stress: how does this association vary for men and women?

This paper examines the association between relationship stress and sexual dysfunction. The results demonstrated a strong association between female sexual dysfunction (FSD) and relationship stress, and between male sexual dysfunction (MSD) and relationship stress among their female partners. No studies examined the association between FSD and relationship stress of male partners. Treatment for MSD was associated with improved relationship stress for female partners, but no studies were located that examined this association for treatment of FSD. These findings suggest that FSD and relationship stress are strongly related, but the association does not seem to be so strong for men. The review highlights the need for further research in this field to inform therapy for both sexual dysfunction and relationship problems.

Better with age: A health promotion program for men at midlife

The current study evaluated a new program designed to improve mental and physical health among middle-age men. The program focused on increasing awareness of health behaviors such as diet, exercise and on improving positive body image messages, self-efficacy and coping skills. Seventy-six men aged 40 to 65 years participated in the study, with 43 men in the intervention group (M = 51.40 years; SD = 7.52 years) and 33 men in the waitlist control group (M = 54.93 years; SD = 4.81 years). Participants in the intervention group attended a 90 min workshop each week for 4 consecutive weeks. Measures of the above target variables were taken preprogram, postprogram, and at 3-month follow-up. The program was effective in improving numerous adaptive coping strategies and body fat percentage at follow-up. In addition, trends toward improving healthy lifestyle factors were observed. Other measures, including self-efficacy and body image, did not reveal significant improvements as a result of the intervention. Findings are discussed in terms of previous research and suggestions for future prevention programs.

Preadolescent boys' investment in masculine gender norms and their use of body change strategies

By the age of 8 years, boys experience body dissatisfaction and use strategies to become thinner and more muscular. The factors contributing to these outcomes are not well understood. This study examines boys’ investment in masculine gender norms and how this relates to their body esteem and their use of body change strategies. Participants were 321 boys aged 7 to 11 years in Melbourne, Australia. The results indicated that boys are invested in masculine physical ideals of strength and athleticism. Investment in these masculine ideals predicted boys’ use of body change strategies. In addition, investment in masculine gender norms moderated the relationship between pressures from peers and boys’ use of body change strategies. The findings highlight the importance of gender norms in shaping boys’ body change strategies at a young age. They also identify several avenues for further research, including the ways in which boys may feel pressure to display gender congruent characteristics and how this is related to their development.

EDITORIAL COMMENTARYEditorial Comment on “Psychology Treatment Trials for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: A Sexual Medicine Critique and Perspective”

Pyke and Clayton present a useful evaluation of the literature on the effectiveness of psychological treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). The title should indicate that only treatment for female HSDD was evaluated. It is important to evaluate the rigor of these interventions and so determine the strength of the evidence to support their effectiveness. This is particularly the case given the current support for a combination of medical and psychological interventions for a range of sexual dysfunctions, including HSDD among women [1].

Health-related quality of life in incident, established, and long-term cases of chronic illness: results from a population-based survey

22nd Annual Conference of the International Society for Quality of Life Research Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 Cutting Edge Research Plenary (1) Inflammatory gene SNPs as predictors of patient reported symptom related functioning in patients with multiple myeloma Xin Shelley Wang, MD, MPH, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; Qiuling Shi, MD, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer center, Houston, TX, United States; Huei Kai Lin, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; Guojun Li, MD, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; Loretta Williams, PhD, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; Robert Orlowski, MD, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; Charles S. Cleeland, PhD, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States AIMS: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable disease and most patients remain on therapy for extended periods of time. The disease and its treatment often produce significant functional impairment. We have previously shown a relationship between patient-reported symptom severity and markers of inflammation. In the current study, we expected that certain regulatory single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in inflammation genes would be associated with functioning in patients with MM 1–5 years postdiagnosis. METHODS: In a crosssectional study, patients rated symptom-related functional impairment on the 6 interference items of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) (symptom interference with general activity, work, walking, mood, enjoyment of life, relations with others). Symptom interference was rated on a 0–10 scale, with 0 = ‘‘does not interfere’’ and 10 = ‘‘interferes completely.’’ Patients also provided buccal-swab DNA samples. SNPs for 4 cytokine genes (IL6 -174G[C, IL1b -511C[T, TNFa -308G[A, IL10 -1082G[A) were tested. Twostep cluster analysis of a patient’s composite MDASI interference score indicated either good or poor functioning status. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, MM stage, performance status (PS), comorbidities, and body mass index, were used to identify SNPs that might predict poor functioning. RESULTS: Of 344 patients enrolled, 80 % received stem cell transplant, 21 % had progression/ relapse disease at time of study. Cluster analysis indicated that 31 % reported poor symptom-related functional status [mean 5.67 (SD 1.56)]. For non-Hispanic whites (n = 222, 64.4 %), the IL1b -511 CC genotype was associated with poor functioning (OR 2.14; 95 % CI 1.18–3.89; p = .012) and poor PS (OR 3.40; 95 % CI 1.55–7.46; p = .002). For other patients, no SNP was related to poor functioning, although poor PS (OR 5.36; 95 % CI 1.47–19.48; p = .011) and advanced-stage disease (OR 2.69; 95 % CI 1.13–6.39; p = .025) were related to poor functioning. CONCLUSIONS: We found that symptoms were interfering with physical and affective functioning in one-third of patients with MM, from patient rated MDASI interferences. Further, genetic associations with inflammation were associated with the poor functioning in non-Hispanic whites. Our study suggests that racial/ethnic factors contribute to this association. (2) A cluster-randomized study of clinician-patient shared vs standard reporting of symptomatic adverse events using PROCTCAE nested in a multicenter trial of multimodal therapy for rectal cancer (Alliance N1048 PROSPECT) Amylou C. Dueck, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States; Sandra A. Mitchell, PhD, CRNP, AOCN, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, United States; Lauren J. Rogak, MA, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States; Brenda Ginos, MS, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States; Daniel J. Sargent, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States; Qian Shi, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States; Jeffrey M. Farma, MD, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; Christopher Crane, MD, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; Hagen Kennecke, MD, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Ann M. O’Mara, PhD, RN, FAAN, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, United States; Lori M. Minasian, MD, FACP, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, United States; Deborah Schrag, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Ethan Basch, MD, MSc, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States AIMS: Treatment toxicity in cancer trials is assessed through clinician grading of adverse events (AEs) using the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for AEs (CTCAE); however numerous studies document underreporting of symptomatic AEs. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have been proposed to improve detection of symptomatic AEs. Recently, the NCI developed a PRO companion measure to the CTCAE (PRO-CTCAE). To evaluate whether sharing patient-reported AEs with clinicians alters toxicity detection, we nested a cluster-randomized study within a multicenter trial (NCT01515787; neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by selective chemoradiation or upfront chemoradiation in 123 Qual Life Res (2015) 24:1–191 DOI 10.1007/s11136-015-1078-4