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

sunnuntai 14. kesäkuuta 2026 päivittänyt: 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.

Tutkimuksen yleiskatsaus

Tila

Rekrytointi

Ehdot

Interventio / Hoito

Yksityiskohtainen kuvaus

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.

Opintotyyppi

Interventio

Ilmoittautuminen (Arvioitu)

42

Vaihe

  • Ei sovellettavissa

Yhteystiedot ja paikat

Tässä osiossa on tutkimuksen suorittajien yhteystiedot ja tiedot siitä, missä tämä tutkimus suoritetaan.

Opiskeluyhteys

Tutki yhteystietojen varmuuskopiointi

Opiskelupaikat

  • Portugali
    • Porto District
      • Porto, Porto District, Portugali, 4200-135
        • Rekrytointi
        • Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto
        • Ottaa yhteyttä:
        • Ottaa yhteyttä:
        • Päätutkija:
          • Filipe N Ribeiro, PhD Student
        • Alatutkija:
          • Mariana V Martins, PhD
        • Alatutkija:
          • Filipa M Vieira, PhD

Osallistumiskriteerit

Tutkijat etsivät ihmisiä, jotka sopivat tiettyyn kuvaukseen, jota kutsutaan kelpoisuuskriteereiksi. Joitakin esimerkkejä näistä kriteereistä ovat henkilön yleinen terveydentila tai aiemmat hoidot.

Kelpoisuusvaatimukset

Opintokelpoiset iät

  • Aikuinen
  • Vanhempi Aikuinen

Hyväksyy terveitä vapaaehtoisia

Ei

Kuvaus

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.

Opintosuunnitelma

Tässä osiossa on tietoja tutkimussuunnitelmasta, mukaan lukien kuinka tutkimus on suunniteltu ja mitä tutkimuksella mitataan.

Miten tutkimus on suunniteltu?

Suunnittelun yksityiskohdat

  • Ensisijainen käyttötarkoitus: Hoito
  • Jako: Satunnaistettu
  • Inventiomalli: Rinnakkaistehtävä
  • Naamiointi: Ei mitään (avoin tarra)

Aseet ja interventiot

Osallistujaryhmä / Arm
Interventio / Hoito
Kokeellinen: 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.
Käyttäytyminen: 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.
Ei väliintuloa: 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.

Mitä tutkimuksessa mitataan?

Ensisijaiset tulostoimenpiteet

Tulosmittaus
Toimenpiteen kuvaus
Aikaikkuna
Change in Breakup Distress
Aikaikkuna: 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
Aikaikkuna: 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

Toissijaiset tulostoimenpiteet

Tulosmittaus
Toimenpiteen kuvaus
Aikaikkuna
Change in Psychological Functioning
Aikaikkuna: 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
Aikaikkuna: 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
Aikaikkuna: 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

Muut tulostoimenpiteet

Tulosmittaus
Toimenpiteen kuvaus
Aikaikkuna
Therapeutic Change as Reported by Participants
Aikaikkuna: 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
Aikaikkuna: 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
Aikaikkuna: 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)

Yhteistyökumppanit ja tutkijat

Täältä löydät tähän tutkimukseen osallistuvat ihmiset ja organisaatiot.

Sponsori

Universidade do Porto

Tutkijat

  • Opintojohtaja: Mariana V Martins, PhD, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto
  • Opintojen puheenjohtaja: Filipa M Vieira, PhD, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto
  • Päätutkija: Filipe N Ribeiro, PhD Student, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto

Opintojen ennätyspäivät

Nämä päivämäärät seuraavat ClinicalTrials.gov-sivustolle lähetettyjen tutkimustietueiden ja yhteenvetojen edistymistä. National Library of Medicine (NLM) tarkistaa tutkimustiedot ja raportoidut tulokset varmistaakseen, että ne täyttävät tietyt laadunvalvontastandardit, ennen kuin ne julkaistaan ​​julkisella verkkosivustolla.

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Ensisijainen valmistuminen (Arvioitu)

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Opintoihin ilmoittautumispäivät

Ensimmäinen lähetetty

Sunnuntai 14. kesäkuuta 2026

Ensimmäinen toimitettu, joka täytti QC-kriteerit

Sunnuntai 14. kesäkuuta 2026

Ensimmäinen Lähetetty (Todellinen)

Torstai 18. kesäkuuta 2026

Tutkimustietojen päivitykset

Viimeisin päivitys julkaistu (Todellinen)

Torstai 18. kesäkuuta 2026

Viimeisin lähetetty päivitys, joka täytti QC-kriteerit

Sunnuntai 14. kesäkuuta 2026

Viimeksi vahvistettu

Maanantai 1. kesäkuuta 2026

Lisää tietoa

Tähän tutkimukseen liittyvät termit

Avainsanat

Muut tutkimustunnusnumerot

  • Ref.ª 2025-02-01b (CdE FPCEUP)

Yksittäisten osallistujien tietojen suunnitelma (IPD)

Aiotko jakaa yksittäisten osallistujien tietoja (IPD)?

EI

IPD-suunnitelman kuvaus

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.

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