Islamically Integrated Chair-Work for Bereaved Muslims

Summary

This study aims to develop and to evaluate the efficacy of an Islamically integrated chair-work intervention designed to assist Muslims experiencing prolonged grief in resolving unfinished business tension. Employing a randomized, non-concurrent, multiple baseline design, the study comprises five phases: (1) baseline assessment, (2) empathic attunement, (3) Traditional Islamically Integrated Psychotherapy (TIIP) chair-work intervention, (4) cognitive consolidation \& spiritually behavioral activation, and (5) follow-up. By integrating insights from early Islamic scholars like Al-Kindi, Abu Bekir er-Razi, and Ibn Sina, alongside psychological counseling and cultural elements, this intervention aims to fill a crucial gap in existing literature. Grief, a normal emotional reaction after the loss of a loved one, is typically resolved over time without professional intervention. However, a small yet significant number of individuals experience prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a persistent and impairing form of grief lasting over 6 months. Unfinished business, indicating unresolved relational issues with the deceased, is a key risk factor for severe PGD. Higher levels of unfinished business are associated with increased psychological problems and unhealthy expressions of grief. Within the framework of Traditional Islamically Integrated Psychotherapy (TIIP), unfinished business is viewed as an emotionally charged problem. Processing this emotional burden during TIIP sessions aims to facilitate resolution, replacing maladaptive emotions with adaptive ones, fulfilling emotional needs, and establishing new meanings for unresolved conflicts. Sense-making of one's loss is crucial for a healthier grieving process, making meaning-oriented techniques more effective in grief therapy. Moreover, research indicates that the expression of grief is influenced by spirituality, religious beliefs, and practices. Yet, there is a lack of faith-based intervention programs tailored for grieving Muslims. This study seeks to address this gap by providing closure and therapeutic methods that cater to the nuanced emotional struggles of bereaved Muslims, offering a faith-based approach previously unavailable in the literature.

Conditions

• Grief
• Emotion Regulation
• Bereavement

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Psychotherapy-Empathic Attunement Phase

The initial focus of our therapeutic intervention is on establishing empathic attunement to aid individuals in processing the inherent pain of grief in a constructive manner. For this phase, therapists will focus solely on adhering to the relationship formation and introspective exploration. Practitioners aimed at empathetically tuning into the patient's emotional experience, validating and reassuring the patient's emotional state, and adhering to the fundamental principles of empathy, sincerity, and positive regard for establishing and upholding a strong therapeutic alliance. Also, accompanying the patients to uncover and process the natural pain to gain self-awareness about their emotions.

BEHAVIORAL

Psychotherapy - Chair-work intervention phase

During this phase, bereavement person will conduct imaginal conversation with a deceased. Practitioners utilized the resolution model including 5 components: (1) emotional reaction of the bereavement (blame, hurt, regret etc.) and enactment of the deceased; (2) differentiation of the bereavement's feelings and deceased's specific negative aspects accessed; (3) intense expression of the bereavement's specific emotions; (4) expression of the bereavement's previously unmet interpersonal needs from the deceased and the deceased validates bereavement's feelings; (5) understanding and forgiveness of the deceased or shift in view of the deceased.

BEHAVIORAL

Psychotherapy - Cognitive consolidation and spiritually behavioral activation phase

Cognitive consolidation and spiritually behavioral activation complement the emotional interventions implemented in earlier stages. This cognitive process aids in the transformation and integration of adaptive growth, enabling patients to assimilate the knowledge and insights acquired during therapy. Therapists take a directive and co-constructivist approach, guiding patients to discover emotionally adaptive reconciliations and meanings that challenge and reshape their emotional and cognitive frameworks in the cognitive consolidation and spiritually behavioral activation phase. Aligned with this cognitive shift, spiritual behavioral activations involve creating plans to address unmet needs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ibn Haldun University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Hooman Keshavarzi, Psy.D. · Ibn Haldun University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-08-27

Primary Completion

2025-11-20

Completion

2026-04-30

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations