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

NCT07658248 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 42

Last updated 2026-06-18

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

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.

Conditions

  • Breakup Distress
  • Dyadic Adjustment

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Universidade do Porto

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Mariana V Martins, PhD · Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto

  • Filipa M Vieira, PhD · Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto

  • Filipe N Ribeiro, PhD Student · Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-09-23
Primary Completion
2026-09-30
Completion
2027-05-31

Countries

  • Portugal

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07658248 on ClinicalTrials.gov