AzTrials
AzTrials

Persistent Genital Arousal DisorderNCT05919784

Examining the Effectiveness of a Group Cognitive-behavioural Treatment Program for Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder

A study testing Cognitive behavioural therapy in people with Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder, run by Dr. Caroline Pukall at 1 site in Canada.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This study seeks to provide information regarding the effectiveness of a virtual, synchronous cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) group program for women with Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genitopelvic Dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder
What is being tested?
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
8 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
24 Apr 2023to 31 May 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • at least 18 years of age
  • fluent in English
  • have a physician-based diagnosis of PGAD/GPD
  • reside in Ontario, Canada
  • be comfortable answering questions about their health (mental and physical) and sexuality in online surveys
  • be comfortable discussing their mental and physical health and PGAD/GPD symptoms in group online therapy sessions with video on

Who cannot join

  • under the age of 18 years
  • nonfluent in English
  • lack of physician based diagnosis of PGAD/GPD
  • not comfortable with answering questions about mental, physical, sexual health
  • not comfortable with discussing mental and physical health and PGAD/GPD symptoms in group online therapy sessions with video on
  • mental or physical health conditions that preclude involvement in group therapy

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Canada1 site
  • Sexual Health Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Queen's University

    Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Examining the Effectiveness of a Group Cognitive-behavioural Treatment Program for Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genitopelvic Dysesthesia

This study seeks to provide information regarding the effectiveness of a virtual, synchronous cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) group program for women with Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genitopelvic Dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD). The program consists of 8 weekly sessions of two hours each, which focus on education and understanding, and learning skills and strategies to manage PGAD/GPD symptoms, and related mental health and lifestyle impacts, as well as structured opportunities for discussion and shared reflection. The group therapy program involves elements based in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Participants in the present study will provide responses to online surveys (before, during, and immediately after treatment, also 3 and 6 months after treatment) regarding their PGAD/GPD symptoms, mental health symptoms, and sexual wellness (sexual pleasure and distress).

Being tested
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Keywords
Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder, intervention

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Cognitive behavioural therapyBehavioural

    The group therapy program (virtual, synchronous) involves elements based in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

Study groups in NCT05919784
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Cognitive behavioural therapyExperimentalThe group therapy program (virtual, synchronous) involves elements based in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
Receives: Behavioral: Cognitive behavioural therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 1 of program

  3. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 2 of program

  4. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 3 of program

  5. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 4 of program

  6. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 5 of program

  7. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 6 of program

  8. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 7 of program

  9. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 8 of program

  10. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: 3 months after the end of the program

  11. Symptom intensity

    Symptom intensity on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely intense symptoms). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: 6 months after the end of the program

  12. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Baseline

  13. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 1 of program

  14. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 2 of program

  15. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 3 of program

  16. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 4 of program

  17. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 5 of program

  18. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 6 of program

  19. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 7 of program

  20. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 8 of program

  21. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: 3 months after the end of the program

  22. Symptom distress

    Symptom distress on a scale of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress). Range is 0-10. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: 6 months after the end of the program

Secondary outcomes (33)
  1. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 1 of program

  3. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 2 of program

  4. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 3 of program

  5. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 4 of program

  6. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 5 of program

  7. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 6 of program

  8. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 7 of program

  9. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: Week 8 of program

  10. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: 3 months after the end of the program

  11. Symptom catastrophizing

    Pain Catastrophizing Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

    Measured: 6 months after the end of the program

  12. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Baseline

  13. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 1 of program

  14. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 2 of program

  15. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 3 of program

  16. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 4 of program

  17. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 5 of program

  18. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 6 of program

  19. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 7 of program

  20. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 8 of program

  21. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: 3 months after the end of the program

  22. Symptom self-efficacy

    Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, adapted to symptoms. Range is 0-60. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: 6 months after the end of the program

  23. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Baseline

  24. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 1 of program

  25. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 2 of program

  26. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 3 of program

  27. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 4 of program

  28. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 5 of program

  29. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 6 of program

  30. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 7 of program

  31. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: Week 8 of program

  32. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: 3 months after the end of the program

  33. Resilience

    Brief Resilience Scale. Range is 6-30. Higher scores are better.

    Measured: 6 months after the end of the program

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Jun 2023
  2. Study start24 Apr 2023
  3. Primary completion31 Aug 2024
  4. Study completion31 May 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
8 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05919784
Sponsor's protocol ID
379631-3
Status last verified
Apr 2025
First submitted
13 Jun 2023
Last updated
6 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: De-identified data will be available to other researchers after publication of the results.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Cognitive behavioural therapy in people with Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder, run by Dr. Caroline Pukall at 1 site in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Symptom intensity (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 22 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 May 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in