Efficacy of System Constellations in a General Population

Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of System Constellations on Psychological Well-being in a General Population Based Sample

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of system constellations in a monocentric, single-masked randomized controlled trial.

The method of system constellations refers to an approach which integrates ideas from family systems therapy with elements from psychodrama. The constellations are conducted in a group based seminar-setting, each seminar lasting three days.

Based on the model of a general psychotherapy and the consistency theory, the effects of system constellations on psychological functioning are explored.

It is predicted that participation in a system constellation seminar changes the level of psychological functioning at 4 months.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Psychological Well-being
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: system constellations seminar

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 216
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Baden-Württemberg
    • Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, 69115
      • Institute of Medical Psychology, University Hospital Heidelberg

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• agreement to participate in a 3-day system constellations seminar
• agreement to be randomized into treatment group or control group (waiting condition)
• agreement not to participate in another system constellation seminar until completion of study

Exclusion Criteria:

• acute suicidal tendency
• acute psychotic episode
• acute drug or alcohol intoxication

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: system constellations seminar (exp. group); Study participants randomized to this group receive the intervention (system constellation seminar) 4 months prior to the control group	Behavioral: system constellations seminar; individual-centered intervention in a group setting, duration 3 days
Experimental: system constellations seminar (control group); Study participants randomized to this group receive the intervention (system constellations seminar) 4 months after the experimental group.	Behavioral: system constellations seminar; individual-centered intervention in a group setting, duration 3 days

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline in psychological well-being at 2 weeks and four months	Psychological well-being will be assessed using the 'Outcome Questionnaire' in its German version (EB-45). The EB-45 is a brief 45-item self report outcome/tracking instrument designed for repeated measurement of client progress through the course of psychotherapy and following termination. The scales of the EB-45 measure symptom distress, interpersonal functioning, and social role.	Baseline, day of treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, 4 months after treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline in Psychological distress after 2 weeks and 4 months	The FEP-2, 40-item self report questionnaire, measures psychological distress according to the phase model of therapeutic change as well as the interpersonal model of psychological distress.	Baseline, day of treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, 4 months after treatment
Change from Baseline in Incongruence at 2 weeks and 4 months	Motivational incongruence is defined as the unsatisfactory realization of motivational goals and is based on the concept of General Psychotherapy by Klaus Grawe. The Incongruence Questionnaire (INK) is an instrument that assesses motivational incongruence, defined as the discrepancy between a person's motivational goals and his/her perception of reality. The short version of this questionnaire that will be used in our study (K-INK) comprises 23 items.	Baseline, day of treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, 4 months after treatment
Goal achievement at 2 weeks and 4 months	Goal achievement will be assessed using Goal Attainment Scaling as a method for the assimilation of achievement in a number of individually set goals into a single aggregated 'goal attainment score', providing a person-centred outcome, focused on that individual's priorities. Goal attainment scaling is operationalized by an open-ended question, in which study participants descriobe their individual goals. In a second step these goals will be coded according to the Bern inventory of psychotherapy goals (BIT-C).	day of treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, 4 months after treatment
Change from Baseline in 'Experiences in family and organisational systems' at 2 weeks and 4 months	The subjective quality of family and organizational systems will be assessed by the HFES (Heidelberger Fragebogen zum Erleben in Systemen: Heidelberg Questionnaire on experiences in systems), a self-constructed questionnaire comprising 24 items.	day of treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, 4 months after treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Heidelberg University
• Investigators: Study Director: Jochen Schweitzer-Rothers, Professor, Institute of Medical Psychology, University Hospital Heidelberg/Germany

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hunger C, Bornhauser A, Link L, Schweitzer J, Weinhold J. Improving experience in personal social systems through family constellation seminars: results of a randomized controlled trial. Fam Process. 2014 Jun;53(2):288-306. doi: 10.1111/famp.12051. Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 4, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 10, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): May 11, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 9, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 8, 2012
• Last Verified: February 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: SFBC11; SFB 619 project C11 (Other Identifier: German Research Council)