Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)NCT07641270
Effects of the Integrated Grief Therapy on Psychological Resilience, Post-Traumatic Growth, Traumatic Stress, and Grief Processes in Earthquake Survivors
A study testing Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) in people with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Grief (Traumatic Grief and Existential Grief), run by Sakarya University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study evaluates the effectiveness of an Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) group program for adults affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquake in Türkiye. Many earthquake survivors experience psychological difficulties such as traumatic stress, grief, and reduced resilience after losing loved ones, homes, and a… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Grief (Traumatic Grief and Existential Grief), Bereavement
- What is being tested?
- Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 190 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 12 Apr 2024to 30 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
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 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18 to 45 years
- Individuals who were present in Hatay, Türkiye during the 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes
- Individuals directly affected by the earthquake
- Ability to provide informed consent
- Willingness to participate in group-based psychological intervention sessions
Who cannot join
- Current diagnosis of a psychotic disorder or severe mental disorder
- Severe cognitive impairment or neurological condition
- Acute suicidal risk requiring immediate intervention or hospitalization
- Currently receiving intensive psychiatric or psychological treatment
- Substance use disorder in an acute or severe phase
- Inability to commit to attending the full intervention program
- Declined or withdrew informed consent
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Psychosocial Support and Grief Therapy Center
Mersin
About this study
Official title: Effects of the Integrated Grief Therapy on Earthquake Survivors
This study evaluates the effectiveness of an Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) group program for adults affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquake in Türkiye. Many earthquake survivors experience psychological difficulties such as traumatic stress, grief, and reduced resilience after losing loved ones, homes, and a sense of safety. This study aims to determine whether a structured group-based therapy program can help improve psychological well-being and reduce distress.
A total of 190 adult participants who experienced the earthquake were included in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a waitlist control group. The experimental group participated in an 8-session Integrated Grief Therapy program delivered face-to-face by trained mental health professionals. The program included psychoeducation about grief, emotional expression, cognitive and behavioral coping strategies, and activities designed to support meaning-making and adaptation after loss. The control group continued to receive routine psychosocial support services available in the community but did not participate in the structured therapy during the study period.
Read more
All participants completed standardized psychological assessments before and after the intervention. These assessments measured psychological resilience, post-traumatic growth, grief-related difficulties, and traumatic stress symptoms.
The study aims to determine whether participants who receive the Integrated Grief Therapy program show greater improvements in resilience and post-traumatic growth, and greater reductions in traumatic stress and grief symptoms, compared to those who do not receive the intervention during the same period.
The findings from this study may help inform the development of effective, scalable mental health interventions for individuals affected by large-scale disasters.
- Conditions
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Grief (Traumatic Grief and Existential Grief), Bereavement
- Being tested
- Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT)
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Prolonged Grief Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT)Behavioural
Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) is a structured, 8-session group intervention developed to support individuals coping with loss after a disaster. The program integrates elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy, humanistic approaches, and grief-focused techniques. It includes psychoeducation about grief, identification and restructuring of maladaptive thoughts, emotional expression, interpersonal sharing, and meaning-making activities such as memory exercises and completion letters. The intervention aims to enhance psychological resilience, promote post-traumatic growth, and reduce traumatic stress and grief symptoms.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) | Experimental | Participants receiving 8-session group-based Integrated Grief Therapy program Receives: Behavioral: Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) |
| Waitlist Control / Treatment as Usual | No intervention | Participants receiving routine psychosocial support only |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Psychological Resilience Score
Psychological resilience will be assessed using the Psychological Resilience Scale for Adults. Total scores range from 33 to 165, with higher scores indicating greater psychological resilience.
Measured: 8 week
Secondary outcomes (1)
Depression Score
Depression symptoms will be assessed using the Depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, a self-report instrument. The subscale consists of 7 items with total scores ranging from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater depression severity.
Measured: 8 week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Jun 2026
- Study start12 Apr 2024
- Primary completion1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (57)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Studies 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
- Participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: (1) an Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) intervention group receiving an 8-session face-to-face group therapy program, or (2) a waitlist control group receiving treatment as usual. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after the 8-week intervention period.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 190 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sakarya University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Burçin Çakır, Sakarya University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07641270
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 67000
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 11 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Group Therapy Intervention Plan Title of the intervention: Structured Group Therapy Program for Individuals Exposed to Trauma and Loss Purpose of the intervention: The purpose of this group therapy program is to reduce psychological distress among individuals who have experienced traumatic events and loss, provide a safe environment for emotional sharing, strengthen coping skills, enhance perceived social support, and improve overall psychosocial functioning. Target group: Adults experiencing psychological distress following earthquake exposure, displacement, bereavement, uncertainty, grief, and trauma-related experiences. A separate protocol may be developed for adolescents if needed. Mode of delivery: Face-to-face, closed-group format Group structure: Each group will consist of 8-12 participants. Each group will be facilitated by one group therapist and one co-facilitator/observer. Facilitators: Psychologists or mental health professionals trained in trauma, grief, crisis inter
Publications
Mikulincer M, Shaver PR. An attachment perspective on loss and grief. Curr Opin Psychol. 2022 Jun;45:101283. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.11.003. Epub 2021 Nov 26.
PubMed 35008028Marrone, M. (2014). Attachment and interaction: From Bowlby to current clinical theory and practice (2nd ed.). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Marmarosh C. Spirituality, Security, Compassion, and Play: Innovative Ways Group Psychotherapy Addresses Human Suffering. Int J Group Psychother. 2024 Apr;74(2):85-97. doi: 10.1080/00207284.2024.2333680. Epub 2024 Apr 15.
PubMed 38621147Maccallum F, Bryant RA. Prolonged grief and attachment security: A latent class analysis. Psychiatry Res. 2018 Oct;268:297-302. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.07.038. Epub 2018 Jul 27.
PubMed 30081202Maass U, Hofmann L, Perlinger J, Wagner B. Effects of bereavement groups-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Death Stud. 2022;46(3):708-718. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1772410. Epub 2020 Jun 5.
PubMed 32501773Lotzin A, Morozova-Larina O, Paschenko S, Paetow A, Schratz L, Keller V, Krupelnytska L. War-related stressors and ICD-11 (complex) post-traumatic stress disorders in Ukrainian students living in Kyiv during the Russian-Ukrainian war. Psychiatry Res. 2023 Dec;330:115561. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115561. Epub 2023 Nov 2.
PubMed 37956590Lotz V, Marichez H, Baubet T. [Post-traumatic grief and the need for ritual in therapy]. Soins. 2023 Jan-Feb;68(872):47-50. doi: 10.1016/j.soin.2023.01.012. Epub 2023 Jan 30. French.
PubMed 36894231Liu Q, Zhu J, Zhang W. The efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention 3 for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in patients with PTSD: A meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials. Stress Health. 2022 Oct;38(4):626-636. doi: 10.1002/smi.3138. Epub 2022 Mar 9.
PubMed 35253353Kosminsky, P. S., & Jordan, J. R. (2016). Attachment-informed grief therapy: The clinician's guide to foundations and applications. Routledge.
Kaya EK, Halacli B, Guven G, Yildirim M, Seven AE, Gemcioglu E, Simsek M, Erdemir Sullu B, Yuksel RC, Kaynar AS, Esmaoglu A, Kilicaslan B, Akinci SB, Gundogan K, Ortac Ersoy E, Rello J, Topeli A; Turkish Intensive Care Studies-Network (TRICS-Net). Infections among adults hospitalized in intensive care after the 2023 earthquake in the southeastern part of Turkiye: a multi-center observational study. BMC Infect Dis. 2025 Jan 7;25(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s12879-024-10416-x.
PubMed 39773106Kaniasty, K., & Norris, F. H. (2004). Social support in the aftermath of disasters, catastrophes, and acts of terrorism: Altruistic, overwhelmed, uncertain, antagonistic, and patriotic communities. In F. H. Norris (Ed.), Bioterrorism: Psychological and public health interventions (pp. 200-229). Cambridge University Press.
Kamm, J. A. (1986). Grief and therapy: Two processes in interaction. The Psychotherapy Patient, 2(1), 59-64. https://doi.org/10.1300/J358v02n01_07
Jung HO, Han SW. Post-traumatic growth of people who have experienced earthquakes: Qualitative research systematic literature review. Front Psychiatry. 2023 Mar 2;13:1070681. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1070681. eCollection 2022.
PubMed 36937000Joseph, S., & Linley, P. A. (2005). Positive adjustment to threatening events: An organismic valuing theory of growth through adversity. Review of General Psychology, 9(3), 262- 280. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.9.3.262
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. (2023). Turkey/Syria earthquakes: Internal displacement overview. Geneva: IDMC. https://www.internal-displacement.org/