When chronic disease strikes a couple, both the ill and well spouse are affected. A literature review of chronic disease reveals that an overlooked area of concern for couples living with a chronic disease is sexual desire. Diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus, and breast cancer result in long periods of medical treatment and interfere with the couple’s normal routines. This can result in a loss of sexual desire. Specific causes of loss of desire in these couples include fatigue, changes in body image, concerns about fulfilling gender roles, fear, caregiving duties, sexual dysfunction, disease severity, and medical treatment. Counselors can design treatment plans that address loss of desire in couples living with a chronic disease by considering the underlying causes of loss of desire.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Blake, D. J.
, Maisiak, R., Alarcon, G. S., Holley, H. L., & Brown, S. (1987). Sexual quality-of-life of patients with arthritis compared to arthritis-free controls. Journal of Rheumatology, 14(3), 570-576.
2.
Brown, R. G.
, Jahanshahi, M., Quinn, N., & Marsden, C. D. (1990). Sexual function in patients with Parkinson’s disease and their partners. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 53, 480-486.
3.
Burbie, G. E.
, & Polinsky, M. L. (1992). Intimacy and sexuality after cancer treatment: Restoring a sense of wholeness. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 10(1), 19-33.
4.
Burling, K.
, Tarvydas, V. M., & Maki, D. R. (1994). Human sexuality and disability: A holistic interpretation of rehabilitation counseling. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 25(1), 10-16.
5.
Buse, S. M.
, & Pieper, B. (1990). Impact of cardiac transplantation on the spouse’s life. Heart and Lung, 19(6), 641-648.
6.
Cahill, S. E.
, & Eggleston, R. (1994). Managing emotions in public: The case of wheelchair users. Social Psychology Quarterly, 57(4), 300-312.
7.
Cole, S. S.
, & Cole, T. M. (1993). Sexuality, disability, and reproductive issues through the lifespan. Sexuality and Disability, 11(3), 189-205.
8.
Curry, S. L.
, Levine, S. B., Jones, K. P., & Kurit, D. M. (1993). Medical and psychosocial predictors of sexual outcome among women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Care and Research, 6(1), 23-30.
9.
Dupont, S.
(1995). Multiple sclerosis and sexual functioning: A review. Clinical Rehabilitation, 9, 135-141.
10.
Faith, M. S.
, & Schare, M. L. (1993). The role of body image in sexually avoidant behavior. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 22(4), 345-356.
11.
Farkas, C. G.
(1992). Neglected issues in the care of dying patients: Nonverbal communication and sexuality. Loss, Grief and Care, 8(2-3), 125-129.
12.
Ghizzani, A.
, Pirtoli, L., Bellezza, A., & Velicogna, F. (1995). The evaluation of some factors influencing the sexual life of women affected by breast cancer. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 21(1), 57-62.
13.
Huws, R.
(1991). Cardiac disease and sexual dysfunction. Sexual and Marital Therapy, 6(2), 119-133.
14.
Johnson, C. L.
(1985). The impact of illness on late-life marriages. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 47, 165-172.
15.
Kaplan, H. S.
(1979). Disorders of sexual desire. New York: Simon & Schuster.
16.
Kaplan, H. S.
(1992). A neglected issue: The sexual side effects of current treatments for breast cancer. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 18(1), 3-19.
17.
Koller, W. C.
, Vetere-Overfield, B., Williamson, A., Busenbark, K., Nash, J., & Parrish, D. (1990). Sexual dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease. Clinical Neuropharmacology, 13(5), 461-463.
18.
Kuehn, A. F.
, & Winters, R. K. (1994). A study of symptom distress, health locus of control, and coping resources of aging post-polio survivors. IMAGE Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 26(4), 325-331.
19.
Leiblum, S. R.
, & Rosen, R. C. (Eds.). (1989). Principles and practice of sex therapy: Update for the 1990’s. New York: Guilford.
20.
Le Mone, P.
(1993). Human sexuality in adults with insulin-dependent diabetes. IMAGE: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 25(2), 101-105.
21.
Levine, S. B.
(1995). What is clinical sexuality? In S. B. Levine (Ed.), Psychiatric clinics of North America (Vol. 18, pp. 1-6). Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.
22.
Majerovitz, S. D.
, & Revenson, T. A. (1994). Sexuality and rheumatic disease. Arthritis Care and Research, 7(1), 29-34.
23.
Masters, W. H.
, & Johnson, V. E. (1966). The human sexual response. Boston: Little, Brown.
24.
Mushlin. A. I.
, Mooney. C., Grow, V., & Phelps, C. E. (1994). The value of diagnostic information to patients with suspected multiple sclerosis. Archives of Neurology, 51, 67-72.
25.
Northouse, L. L.
(1989). The impact of breast cancer on patients and husbands. Cancer Nursing, 12(5), 276-284.
26.
Packer, T. L.
, Sauriol, A., & Brouwer, B. (1994). Fatigue secondary to chronic illness: Postpolio syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple sclerosis. Archives of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation, 75, 1122-1126.
27.
Revenson, T. A.
(1994). Social support and marital coping with chronic illness. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 16(2), 122-130.
28.
Rolland, J.
(1987). Chronic illness and the life cycle: A conceptual framework. Family Practice, 26, 203-221.
29.
Rolland, J. S.
(1994). Families, illness, and disability: An integrative treatment model. New York: Basic Books.
30.
Rosen, R. C.
, & Leiblum, S. R. (1995). Treatment of sexual disorders in the 1990s: An integrated approach. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(6), 877-890.
31.
Sandyk, R.
(1995). The pineal gland, cataplexy, and multiple sclerosis. International Journal of Neuroscience, 83(3-4), 153-163.
32.
Sayger, T. V.
, Bowersox, M. P., & Steinberg, E. B. (1996). Family therapy and the treatment of chronic illness in a multidisciplinary world. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 4(1), 12-21.
33.
Schiavi, R. C.
, & Segraves, R. T. (1995). The biology of sexual function. In S. B. Levine (Ed.), The psychiatric clinics of North America (pp. 7-23). Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.
34.
Schiavi, R. C.
, Stimmel, B., Mandeli, J., Schreiner-Engel, P., & Ghizzani, A. (1995). Diabetes, psychological function and male sexuality. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 39(3), 305-314.
35.
Schover, L. R.
, & Jensen, S. B. (1988). Sexuality and chronic illness. New York: Guilford.
36.
Schreiner-Engel, P.
, Schiavi, R. C., Vietorisz, D., & Smith, H. (1987). The differential impact of diabetes type on female sexuality. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 31(1), 23-33.
37.
Sipski, M. L.
, & Alexander, C. J. (Eds.). (1997). Sexual function in people with disability and chronic illness: A health professional’s guide. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen.
38.
Sipski, M. L.
, & Alexander, C. J. (1997). Impact of disability or chronic illness on sexual function. In M. L. Sipski & C. J. Alexander (Eds.), Sexual function in people with disability and chronic illness: A health professional’s guide (pp. 3-12). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen.
39.
Speckens, A. E.
, Hengeveld, M. W., Nijeholt, G. L., van Hemert, A. M., & Hawton, K. (1995). Psychosexual functioning of partners of men with presumed non-organic erectile dysfunction: Cause or consequence of the disorder?Archives of Sexual Behavior, 24(2), 157-172.
40.
Strong, M.
(1988). Mainstay. Boston: Little, Brown.
41.
Thomas, A. M.
, & LoPiccolo, J. (1994). Sexual functioning in persons with diabetes: Issues in research, treatment, and education. Clinical Psychology Review, 14(1), 61-86.
42.
Tiefer, L.
, & Kring, B. (1995). Gender and the organization of sexual behavior. In S. B. Levine (Ed.), The psychiatric clinics of North America (pp. 25-37). Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.
43.
Whipple, B.
, & McGreer, K. B. (1997). Management of female sexual dysfunction. In M. L. Sipski & C. J. Alexander (Eds.), Sexual function in people with disability and chronic illness: A health professional’s guide (pp. 511-536). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen.
44.
Zasler, N. D.
(1991). Sexuality in neurologic disability: An overview. Sexuality and Disability, 9(1), 11-27.
45.
Zibergeld, B.
, & Ellison, C. R. (1989). Desire discrepancies and arousal problems in sex therapy. In S. R. Leiblum & L. A. Pervin (Eds.), Principles and practice of sex therapy (2nd ed., pp. 65-104). New York: Guilford.
