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Psychodrama Group Therapy for Breakup Distress and Relationship Adjustment: A Randomized Trial

14. června 2026 aktualizováno: Filipe Ribeiro, Universidade do Porto

Psychodrama Group Therapy for Unresolved Breakup Distress and Dyadic Adjustment in Current Romantic Relationships: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether a psychodrama group therapy intervention can reduce unresolved breakup distress and improve dyadic adjustment in adults currently involved in romantic relationships who have experienced a significant previous breakup.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

  • Does participation in psychodrama group therapy reduce breakup distress compared with a waiting-list control condition?
  • Does participation in psychodrama group therapy improve dyadic adjustment and relationship functioning compared with a waiting-list control condition?

The researchers will compare participants receiving the psychodrama group therapy intervention with participants in a waiting-list control condition to determine whether the intervention leads to greater improvements in breakup distress, dyadic adjustment, psychological functioning, relationship quality, and sexual satisfaction.

Participants will:

  • complete assessments at baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks;
  • participate in a 15-session weekly psychodrama group therapy program (intervention group only);
  • complete questionnaires assessing breakup distress, dyadic adjustment, psychological outcomes, relationship quality, and sexual satisfaction.

Přehled studie

Postavení

Nábor

Podmínky

Intervence / Léčba

Detailní popis

Romantic relationship breakups are common life events that may have substantial emotional and relational consequences. While many individuals adapt successfully over time, some continue to experience unresolved breakup distress characterized by persistent emotional suffering, difficulties processing the loss, and challenges integrating the experience into their personal and relational lives. Emerging evidence suggests that unresolved distress following a previous romantic breakup may negatively affect the quality of subsequent romantic relationships, including communication, intimacy, trust, emotional regulation, and overall dyadic adjustment.

Despite increasing recognition of the psychological and relational impact of romantic breakups, there is a limited evidence base regarding interventions specifically designed to address unresolved breakup distress. Furthermore, randomized controlled trials evaluating psychodrama interventions in this context remain scarce. Psychodrama is an experiential and action-oriented psychotherapy approach developed by Jacob Levy Moreno that uses dramatization, role-playing, role reversal, and other action methods to facilitate emotional expression, interpersonal insight, and behavioral change. Through the exploration of past and present relational experiences, psychodrama may help individuals process unresolved emotions associated with previous relationships, recognize maladaptive relational patterns, and develop more adaptive ways of relating in current relationships.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a manualized psychodrama group therapy program for adults currently involved in romantic relationships who continue to experience unresolved distress related to a significant previous breakup. The intervention was developed based on psychodramatic theory and clinical practice and focuses on emotional processing of previous relationship losses, exploration of attachment and relational patterns, enhancement of emotional communication, strengthening of intimacy and trust, and promotion of healthier dyadic functioning in current romantic relationships.

This study employs a randomized controlled design comparing a psychodrama group therapy intervention with a waiting-list control condition. The intervention consists of 15 weekly group sessions delivered in a closed-group format by trained psychodrama practitioners. Sessions follow the traditional psychodramatic structure of warm-up, dramatization, and sharing and progressively address themes including relational history, attachment experiences, breakup distress, grief processes, self-esteem, emotional communication, jealousy, emotional security, relational repair, intimacy, and relational role reconstruction.

In addition to evaluating clinical outcomes, the study aims to contribute to the methodological development of psychodrama research by implementing a structured intervention protocol and examining both quantitative and qualitative indicators of therapeutic change. Findings from this trial may contribute to a better understanding of the role of psychodrama in addressing unresolved breakup distress and promoting healthier functioning in subsequent romantic relationships. The results may also inform the development of evidence-based interventions targeting the long-term emotional and relational consequences of romantic relationship dissolution.

Typ studie

Intervenční

Zápis (Odhadovaný)

42

Fáze

  • Nelze použít

Kontakty a umístění

Tato část poskytuje kontaktní údaje pro ty, kteří studii provádějí, a informace o tom, kde se tato studie provádí.

Studijní kontakt

Studijní záloha kontaktů

Studijní místa

  • Portugalsko
    • Porto District
      • Porto, Porto District, Portugalsko, 4200-135
        • Nábor
        • Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto
        • Kontakt:
        • Kontakt:
        • Vrchní vyšetřovatel:
          • Filipe N Ribeiro, PhD Student
        • Dílčí vyšetřovatel:
          • Mariana V Martins, PhD
        • Dílčí vyšetřovatel:
          • Filipa M Vieira, PhD

Kritéria účasti

Výzkumníci hledají lidi, kteří odpovídají určitému popisu, kterému se říká kritéria způsobilosti. Některé příklady těchto kritérií jsou celkový zdravotní stav osoby nebo předchozí léčba.

Kritéria způsobilosti

Věk způsobilý ke studiu

  • Dospělý
  • Starší dospělý

Přijímá zdravé dobrovolníky

Ne

Popis

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18 years or older;
  • Currently involved in a romantic relationship for at least 6 months;
  • History of at least one significant previous romantic relationship breakup;
  • Presence of breakup distress related to a previous romantic breakup and/or difficulties in current dyadic adjustment;
  • Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of severe mental disorder that may interfere with participation in group psychotherapy;
  • Severe active substance dependence;
  • Current severe relational violence;
  • Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent;
  • Any clinical condition that, in the opinion of the research team, may compromise safe participation in the intervention.

Studijní plán

Tato část poskytuje podrobnosti o studijním plánu, včetně toho, jak je studie navržena a co studie měří.

Jak je studie koncipována?

Detaily designu

  • Primární účel: Léčba
  • Přidělení: Randomizované
  • Intervenční model: Paralelní přiřazení
  • Maskování: Žádné (otevřený štítek)

Zbraně a zásahy

Skupina účastníků / Arm
Intervence / Léčba
Experimentální: Psychodrama Group Therapy
Participants assigned to this arm will receive a structured psychodrama group therapy intervention consisting of 15 weekly sessions delivered in a closed-group format. Sessions are facilitated by trained psychodrama practitioners and focus on emotional processing of unresolved breakup distress, exploration of relational and attachment patterns, emotional communication, intimacy, trust, and dyadic adjustment in current romantic relationships.
Behaviorální: Psychodrama Group Therapy for Unresolved Breakup Distress and Dyadic Adjustment
A manualized psychodrama group therapy program delivered in 15 weekly sessions of approximately 90-120 minutes. The intervention is based on Morenian psychodrama principles and uses techniques such as role reversal, soliloquy, mirroring, sociometry, sculpting, and dramatization to facilitate emotional processing of previous romantic relationship losses and promote healthier functioning in current romantic relationships. The program is delivered in a closed-group format by trained psychodrama practitioners.
Žádný zásah: Waiting-List Control
Participants assigned to this arm will remain on a waiting list during the study period and will not receive the psychodrama intervention. They will complete all study assessments at the same time points as the intervention group and will be offered the opportunity to participate in the psychodrama program after completion of the follow-up assessments.

Co je měření studie?

Primární výstupní opatření

Měření výsledku
Popis opatření
Časové okno
Change in Breakup Distress
Časové okno: Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks
Assessment of breakup-related emotional distress using the Breakup Distress Scale (BDS). The BDS is a 16-item self-report measure assessing emotional distress associated with a previous romantic relationship breakup. Higher scores indicate greater breakup distress.
Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks
Change in Dyadic Adjustment
Časové okno: Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks
Assessment of relationship functioning using the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS). The RDAS is a 14-item self-report measure evaluating overall dyadic adjustment and the dimensions of consensus, satisfaction, and cohesion within the current romantic relationship. Higher scores indicate better dyadic adjustment.
Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks

Sekundární výstupní opatření

Měření výsledku
Popis opatření
Časové okno
Change in Psychological Functioning
Časové okno: Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks
Assessment of psychological functioning using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). The CORE-OM is a 34-item self-report measure assessing subjective well-being, psychological symptoms, social functioning, and risk-related behaviors. Higher scores indicate greater psychological distress and impairment.
Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks
Change in Perceived Relationship Quality
Časové okno: Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks
Assessment of perceived relationship quality using the Perceived Relationship Quality Components Inventory (PRQC). The PRQC is an 18-item self-report measure assessing satisfaction, commitment, intimacy, trust, passion, and love within the current romantic relationship. Higher scores indicate better perceived relationship quality.
Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks
Change in Sexual Satisfaction
Časové okno: Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks
Assessment of sexual satisfaction using the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX). The GMSEX is a 5-item self-report measure assessing overall satisfaction with the sexual relationship with the current partner. Higher scores indicate greater sexual satisfaction.
Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks

Další výstupní opatření

Měření výsledku
Popis opatření
Časové okno
Therapeutic Change as Reported by Participants
Časové okno: During sessions 1-15 and at 16 weeks (intervention group only)
Assessment of participants' perceived therapeutic change using the Personal Questionnaire (PQ), an individualized measure in which participants identify and rate personal problems they wish to address during therapy. Lower scores indicate improvement in identified problems.
During sessions 1-15 and at 16 weeks (intervention group only)
Helpful and Hindering Aspects of Therapy
Časové okno: After each intervention session 1-15 (intervention group only)
Assessment of participants' perceptions of helpful and unhelpful aspects of each therapy session using the Helpful Aspects of Therapy (HAT) questionnaire.
After each intervention session 1-15 (intervention group only)
Participant Experience of Therapeutic Change
Časové okno: 16 weeks and 42 weeks (intervention group only)
Assessment of participants' experiences of change during therapy using the Client Change Interview (CCI), a semi-structured interview exploring perceived changes, contributing factors, and helpful or unhelpful aspects of treatment.
16 weeks and 42 weeks (intervention group only)

Spolupracovníci a vyšetřovatelé

Zde najdete lidi a organizace zapojené do této studie.

Sponzor

Universidade do Porto

Vyšetřovatelé

  • Ředitel studie: Mariana V Martins, PhD, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto
  • Studijní židle: Filipa M Vieira, PhD, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto
  • Vrchní vyšetřovatel: Filipe N Ribeiro, PhD Student, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto

Termíny studijních záznamů

Tato data sledují průběh záznamů studie a předkládání souhrnných výsledků na ClinicalTrials.gov. Záznamy ze studií a hlášené výsledky jsou před zveřejněním na veřejné webové stránce přezkoumány Národní lékařskou knihovnou (NLM), aby se ujistily, že splňují specifické standardy kontroly kvality.

Hlavní termíny studia

Začátek studia (Aktuální)

23. září 2025

Primární dokončení (Odhadovaný)

1. září 2026

Dokončení studie (Odhadovaný)

1. května 2027

Termíny zápisu do studia

První předloženo

14. června 2026

První předloženo, které splnilo kritéria kontroly kvality

14. června 2026

První zveřejněno (Aktuální)

18. června 2026

Aktualizace studijních záznamů

Poslední zveřejněná aktualizace (Aktuální)

18. června 2026

Odeslaná poslední aktualizace, která splnila kritéria kontroly kvality

14. června 2026

Naposledy ověřeno

1. června 2026

Více informací

Termíny související s touto studií

Klíčová slova

Další identifikační čísla studie

  • Ref.ª 2025-02-01b (CdE FPCEUP)

Plán pro data jednotlivých účastníků (IPD)

Plánujete sdílet data jednotlivých účastníků (IPD)?

NE

Popis plánu IPD

Individual participant data will not be shared due to the sensitive nature of the information collected and the need to protect participant confidentiality and privacy in accordance with ethical and data protection requirements.

Informace o lécích a zařízeních, studijní dokumenty

Studuje lékový produkt regulovaný americkým FDA

Ne

Studuje produkt zařízení regulovaný americkým úřadem FDA

Ne

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