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College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Psychology

Alessandra Rellini

The Clinical Training Program

Alessandra Rellini

Alessandra Rellini
Associate Professor

Education
  • B.A. Whittier College, 1997
  • M.A. California School of Professional Psychology, 2001
  • Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin, 2007
C.V. (PDF)
Email: alessandra.rellini@uvm.edu
Phone: (802) 656-4110
Room: 240

Website: Sexual Health Research Clinic

Status: On fellowship leave Spring semester 2013

Areas
My laboratory focuses on the study of sexual function and dysfunction in men and women. We have a state of the art psychophysiological equipment to assess genital engorgement, heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance and behavioral responses during audio and visual stimuli. My students and I are currently investigating a number of topics, including the following:

  • The effect of emotional states and emotional vulnerabilities on sexual function and sexual responses.
  • Predictors of sexual revictimization in adults with a history of childhood sexual abuse.
  • Cardiovascular disease and sexual responses.
  • Infertility and sexual well-being.
  • Effects of cortisol and androgens on sexual function in women.
  • Motivation for sexual behavior.

Our studies are conducted in the spirit of translational science, meaning that results from these basic science studies are integrated into treatments. Currently, my laboratory is working on the development of two treatments, one targeting women with female sexual arousal disorder and a second treatment specifically for the sexual dysfunction of women with a history of childhood sexual abuse.

Laboratory
The focus of the Sexual Health Research Clinic is women's sexual function and dysfunction. We embrace an interdisciplinary approach that combines psychophysiology, endocrinology, cognitive and clinical outcome studies to better understand the multifaceted nature of sexuality. All studies conducted in the clinic are designed in the spirit of "translational research", meaning that we commit to study aspects of sexual health for the development and testing of treatments that we intend to disseminate in the community.

Representative Publications

  • Rellini, A. H., Elinson, S., Janssen, E., Meston, C. M. (2012). The effect of pre-existing affect on the sexual responses of women with and without a history of childhood sexual abuse. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 329-339. DOI: 10.1007/s10508-011-9772-y
  • Brotto, L. A., Seal, B., & Rellini, A. H. (2012). Pilot study of a brief cognitive behavioral versus mindfulness-based intervention for women with sexual distress and a history of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 38(1),1-27.
  • Laan, E., & Rellini, A. H. (2011). Can we treat anorgasmia in women? The challenge to experiencing pleasure. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 26, 329-341. DOI:10.1080/14681994.2011.649691
  • Rellini, A. H., Vujanovic, A. A., Gilbert, M., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2011). Childhood maltreatment and difficulties in emotion regulation: Associations with sexual and relationship satisfaction among young adult women. Journal of Sex Research, 19:1-9.
  • Dundon, C. M., Rellini, A. H., Tonani, S., Santamaria, V., & Nappi, R. E. (2010). Mood disorders and sexual functionig in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. Fertility & Sterility, 94(6), 2239-2243.
  • Rellini, A. H., Hamilton, L. D., Delville, Y., & Meston, C. M. (2009). The cortisol response during physiological sexual arousal in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22 (6), 557-565.
  • Rellini, A. H., McCall, K. M., Randall, P. K., & Meston, C. M. (2005). The relationship between women’s subjective and physiological sexual arousal. Psychophysiology, 42, 116-124.
Contact UVM © 2013 The University of Vermont - Burlington, VT 05405 - (802) 656-3131