Psychiatric NursingNCT07305571
The Effect of Psychodrama-Based Group Work
A study testing psychodrama-based group intervention in people with Psychiatric Nursing and Depression Disorder, run by Ömer USLU at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Aims This study examined the effect of psychodrama-based group work on postpartum women's tendencies toward depression and forgiveness. Methods This study used a pretest-posttest-follow-up randomised controlled experimental method. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 55 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Psychiatric Nursing, Depression Disorder, Forgiveness
- What is being tested?
- psychodrama-based group intervention
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 23 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 2 Apr 2025to 30 Jun 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 to 55 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18-55 years or (until menopause)
- Having the mental capacity and sufficient communication skills to follow the research instructions, being literate.
- Having an infant receiving treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Who cannot join
- Having a condition that impairs communication
- Having a diagnosed mental illness.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Bergama Necla Mithat Öztüre State Hospital
Izmir, Bergama, 35700
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Psychodrama-Based Group Work on Postpartum Women's Depression and Forgiveness Tendencies: A Randomised Controlled Study
Aims This study examined the effect of psychodrama-based group work on postpartum women's tendencies toward depression and forgiveness.
Methods This study used a pretest-posttest-follow-up randomised controlled experimental method. The study sample consisted of 23 postpartum mothers (11 experimental and 12 control) whose babies were receiving treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit between April and June 2025. While psychodrama-based group intervention was applied to the experimental group, no intervention was performed in the control group. Data were collected using a personal information form, Postnatal Depression Screening Scale, and Forgiveness Scale.
Read more
Results In the study, it was found that the mean forgiveness scores in the final test and follow-up measurements of the postpartum women in the experimental group were statistically significantly higher compared to the control group (p<0.05). In the final test and follow-up measurements, the mean postpartum depression scores of the women in the experimental group were found to be statistically significantly lower than those of the mothers in the control group (p<0.05).
Conclusions Psychodrama-based group work increased forgiveness tendencies and reduced depression levels in postpartum women. In this regard, it is recommended that psychodrama sessions be conducted for postpartum women.
Read the detailed description
The neonatal period is a critical stage of development in the first 28 days after birth, during which the baby adapts physiologically and biologically to the external environment. Owing to issues such as prematurity, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, and respiratory distress, some babies require advanced medical support, highlighting the vital importance of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). During this process, mothers experience intense psychological stress due to factors such as uncertainty about the baby's health, limited physical contact, a highly technological environment, and the postponement of maternal roles, which leads to the emergence of negative emotions, such as guilt, inadequacy, hopelessness, helplessness, and anxiety, thereby making the postpartum period more emotionally fragile. These negative emotions also weaken the psychological resilience of postpartum mothers and constitute a significant risk factor, especially for the development of postpartum depression. Studies in the literature indicate that mothers experiencing postpartum depression negatively affect their breastfeeding behaviors, adaptation to the postpartum period, ability to cope with challenges, quality of life, and overall mental, physical, and social health. The concept of forgiveness, which facilitates relief from pain and distress caused by intense negative emotions that intensify during the postpartum period, is defined as an important psychological component in overcoming depression, anxiety, relationship conflicts, and crises in a healthy manner. Forgiveness has been reported to make a significant contribution, particularly in reducing depressive symptoms. Forgiveness has been shown to have positive effects in alleviating psychological distress, protecting and improving health, and has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of various mental disorders. One such approach is psychodrama. Psychodrama has been used in the field of nursing since the 1960s and has found a place in clinical practice. Psychodrama is an effective and important psychotherapy method in terms of increasing peer support, finding a model for identification, experiencing positive relationships, seeing different approaches to relationships, and experiencing different roles. An increase in the number of psychiatric nurses with knowledge and skills in psychodrama will add a scientific and artistic dimension to the field of nursing, creating a special level of advancement in the quality of care provided by nurses through interactions with people. In this context, considering the critical role of women in shaping the future of society, this study evaluated the effects of a psychodrama-based group intervention aimed at supporting the psychological well-being of mothers during the postpartum period, reducing depressive symptoms, and strengthening tendencies toward forgiveness.
- Conditions
- Psychiatric Nursing, Depression Disorder, Forgiveness, Puerperal Depression, Psychoeducation
- Being tested
- psychodrama-based group intervention, Control
- Keywords
- depression, forgiveness, psychodrama, puerperal, psychiatric nursing
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Postpartum, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
psychodrama-based group interventionOther
For postpartum mothers in the experimental group, a psychodrama-based group intervention was carried out face-to-face, with one session per week, each lasting 120 minutes, for a total of 8 sessions (over 8 weeks).
ControlOther
no intervention was performed in the control group
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| psychodrama-based group intervention | Experimental | Participants will receive an 8-session psychodrama-based group intervention. Receives: Other: psychodrama-based group intervention; Other: Control |
| Control | No intervention | Throughout the study, the psychodrama-based group intervention was applied only to the experimental group, and no intervention was performed in the control group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Postpartum Depression Screening Scale
Evaluation of the change in the total score of the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale. The minimum score obtained from the scale was 35, and the maximum score was 175. Higher scores indicate higher levels of postpartum depression.
Measured: Baseline (pretest), 8 weeks (posttest) and one month after the posttest
Secondary outcomes (1)
The Forgiveness Scale
Forgiveness Scale, developed by Ersanlı and Batık, designed to measure individuals' levels of self-forgiveness and forgiveness of others. The scale is scored from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree," with higher scores indicating higher levels of forgiveness.
Measured: Baseline (pretest), 8 weeks (posttest) and one month after the posttest
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Dec 2025
- Study start2 Apr 2025
- Primary completion29 Jun 2025
- Study completion30 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Psychiatric NursingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study used a pretest-posttest-follow-up randomised controlled experimental method. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (psychodrama-based group intervention) or the control group with no intervention.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 23 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ömer USLU
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ömer USLU, Aydin Adnan Menderes University
- Investigators
- Merve Şahin, PhD, RN, Principal investigator, Bergama Necla Mithat Öztüre State Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07305571
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MERVE-RCT-2025-PAD
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 6 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) from this study will not be shared due to ethical and institutional restrictions. The dataset includes sensitive health information from postpartum women, and the informed consent process did not include permission for public data sharing. Therefore, in accordance with privacy regulations and ethical committee requirements, IPD will not be made available to other researchers
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Psychodrama-Based Group Work on Postpartum Women's Depression and Forgiveness Tendencies: A Randomised Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07305571
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MERVE-RCT-2025-PAD
- Conditions
- Psychiatric Nursing, Depression Disorder, Forgiveness, Puerperal Depression, Psychoeducation
- Keywords
- depression, forgiveness, psychodrama, puerperal, psychiatric nursing
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 23 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ömer USLUUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 29 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Aims This study examined the effect of psychodrama-based group work on postpartum women's tendencies toward depression and forgiveness.
Methods This study used a pretest-posttest-follow-up randomised controlled experimental method. The study sample consisted of 23 postpartum mothers (11 experimental and 12 control) whose babies were receiving treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit between April and June 2025. While psychodrama-based group intervention was applied to the experimental group, no intervention was performed in the control group. Data were collected using a personal information form, Postnatal Depression Screening Scale, and Forgiveness Scale.
Results In the study, it was found that the mean forgiveness scores in the final test and follow-up measurements of the postpartum women in the experimental group were statistically significantly higher compared to the control group (p<0.05). In the final test and follow-up measurements, the mean postpartum depression scores of the women in the experimental group were found to be statistically significantly lower than those of the mothers in the control group (p<0.05).
Conclusions Psychodrama-based group work increased forgiveness tendencies and reduced depression levels in postpartum women. In this regard, it is recommended that psychodrama sessions be conducted for postpartum women.
Detailed description
The neonatal period is a critical stage of development in the first 28 days after birth, during which the baby adapts physiologically and biologically to the external environment. Owing to issues such as prematurity, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, and respiratory distress, some babies require advanced medical support, highlighting the vital importance of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). During this process, mothers experience intense psychological stress due to factors such as uncertainty about the baby's health, limited physical contact, a highly technological environment, and the postponement of maternal roles, which leads to the emergence of negative emotions, such as guilt, inadequacy, hopelessness, helplessness, and anxiety, thereby making the postpartum period more emotionally fragile. These negative emotions also weaken the psychological resilience of postpartum mothers and constitute a significant risk factor, especially for the development of postpartum depression. Studies in the literature indicate that mothers experiencing postpartum depression negatively affect their breastfeeding behaviors, adaptation to the postpartum period, ability to cope with challenges, quality of life, and overall mental, physical, and social health. The concept of forgiveness, which facilitates relief from pain and distress caused by intense negative emotions that intensify during the postpartum period, is defined as an important psychological component in overcoming depression, anxiety, relationship conflicts, and crises in a healthy manner. Forgiveness has been reported to make a significant contribution, particularly in reducing depressive symptoms. Forgiveness has been shown to have positive effects in alleviating psychological distress, protecting and improving health, and has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of various mental disorders. One such approach is psychodrama. Psychodrama has been used in the field of nursing since the 1960s and has found a place in clinical practice. Psychodrama is an effective and important psychotherapy method in terms of increasing peer support, finding a model for identification, experiencing positive relationships, seeing different approaches to relationships, and experiencing different roles. An increase in the number of psychiatric nurses with knowledge and skills in psychodrama will add a scientific and artistic dimension to the field of nursing, creating a special level of advancement in the quality of care provided by nurses through interactions with people. In this context, considering the critical role of women in shaping the future of society, this study evaluated the effects of a psychodrama-based group intervention aimed at supporting the psychological well-being of mothers during the postpartum period, reducing depressive symptoms, and strengthening tendencies toward forgiveness.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study used a pretest-posttest-follow-up randomised controlled experimental method. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (psychodrama-based group intervention) or the control group with no intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| psychodrama-based group intervention | Experimental | Other: psychodrama-based group intervention, Other: ControlParticipants will receive an 8-session psychodrama-based group intervention. |
| Control | No intervention | –Throughout the study, the psychodrama-based group intervention was applied only to the experimental group, and no intervention was performed in the control group |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 55 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Age between 18-55 years or (until menopause)
- Having the mental capacity and sufficient communication skills to follow the research instructions, being literate.
- Having an infant receiving treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Having a condition that impairs communication
- Having a diagnosed mental illness.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| psychodrama-based group interventionFor postpartum mothers in the experimental group, a psychodrama-based group intervention was carried out face-to-face, with one session per week, each lasting 120 minutes, for a total of 8 sessions (over 8 weeks). | Other | psychodrama-based group intervention |
| Controlno intervention was performed in the control group | Other | psychodrama-based group intervention |
Primary outcome
Postpartum Depression Screening Scale
Time frame: Baseline (pretest), 8 weeks (posttest) and one month after the posttest
Evaluation of the change in the total score of the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale. The minimum score obtained from the scale was 35, and the maximum score was 175. Higher scores indicate higher levels of postpartum depression.
1 secondary outcome
The Forgiveness Scale
Time frame: Baseline (pretest), 8 weeks (posttest) and one month after the posttest
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Jan 2026.
- Bergama Necla Mithat Öztüre State HospitalLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) from this study will not be shared due to ethical and institutional restrictions. The dataset includes sensitive health information from postpartum women, and the informed consent process did not include permission for public data sharing. Therefore, in accordance with privacy regulations and ethical committee requirements, IPD will not be made available to other researchers
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Merve Şahin, PhD, RN principal investigator
Bergama Necla Mithat Öztüre State Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing psychodrama-based group intervention in people with Psychiatric Nursing and Depression Disorder, run by Ömer USLU at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 3 inclusion and 2 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 Jan 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (time frame: Baseline (pretest), 8 weeks (posttest) and one month after the posttest). 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 Jan 2026.