SCHIZOPHRENIA 1 (Disorder)
Conditions
Keywords
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Psychoeducation, Community Mental Health Center, Family Caregiver, Expressed Emotion, Family Burden, Psychological Flexibility, Randomized Controlled Trial, Schizophrenia
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effects of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based psychoeducation program on expressed emotion, perceived family burden, and psychological flexibility among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia attending a Community Mental Health Center. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does ACT-based psychoeducation reduce expressed emotion among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia? * Does ACT-based psychoeducation reduce perceived family burden among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia? * Does ACT-based psychoeducation improve psychological flexibility among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia? Researchers will randomly assign eligible caregivers to either an intervention group receiving an 8-session ACT-based psychoeducation program or a control group receiving routine care. Participants will: * Complete assessment measures before the intervention (pre-test). * Participate in 8 ACT-based psychoeducation sessions if assigned to the intervention group. * Continue receiving routine care if assigned to the control group. * Complete assessment measures immediately after the intervention (post-test). * Complete follow-up assessments at 1 month and 3 months after the intervention.
Detailed description
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It has devastating consequences that impact not only the health of affected individuals but also their social, occupational, and economic functioning. The effects of schizophrenia extend beyond patients and significantly influence family members who assume caregiving responsibilities. The behavioral and emotional difficulties experienced by individuals with schizophrenia may expose caregivers to various physical and psychological challenges. Family caregivers frequently experience emotions such as anger, helplessness, anxiety, and uncertainty, and they may have difficulty managing these emotional reactions. With the increasing adoption of community-based mental health care services, families have assumed greater responsibility for the care of individuals with schizophrenia. As a result, caregivers often face substantial caregiving demands, contributing to increased family burden and emotional distress. Psychological flexibility refers to the ability to maintain or change behavior in accordance with personal values and long-term goals despite the presence of distressing thoughts, emotions, or experiences. Caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia are frequently exposed to stressful situations and negative emotional experiences that may adversely affect their psychological flexibility. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a behavioral intervention that aims to enhance psychological flexibility through acceptance, mindfulness, values clarification, and committed action. Previous studies have suggested that ACT-based interventions may help family members develop more adaptive beliefs and attitudes, reduce psychological distress, and improve coping with caregiving challenges. Through the acceptance process, caregivers may learn to engage more effectively with difficult thoughts and emotions associated with long-term caregiving responsibilities. The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the effects of an ACT-based psychoeducation program on expressed emotion, perceived family burden, and psychological flexibility among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia attending a Community Mental Health Center. Eligible caregivers will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving an eight-session ACT-based psychoeducation program or a control group receiving routine care. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline (pre-test), immediately after the intervention (post-test), at 1-month follow-up, and at 3-month follow-up.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-Based Psychoeducation Program
The intervention consists of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based psychoeducation program developed in accordance with expert opinions. The program is delivered in a group format and includes eight structured sessions lasting approximately 60-90 minutes each. Session topics include introduction to the program and ACT principles, contact with the present moment, acceptance, cognitive defusion, self-as-context (observing self), values, values-based actions, and review and evaluation of the psychoeducation process. The intervention is designed to reduce expressed emotion and perceived family burden and to improve psychological flexibility among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia attending a Community Mental Health Center.
Sponsors
Aydin Adnan Menderes University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
The family members in the intervention and control groups will be kept secret from the family members in the research group, thus blinding the participants. After the data collection is complete, the patient data from the intervention and control groups will be coded into the SPSS program as group 1 and group 2, and the statistical consultant will not be informed, and the statistical expert and results evaluations will be done blindly.
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group in a parallel-group design. The intervention group will receive an eight-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based psychoeducation program, while the control group will receive routine care. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline (pre-test), immediately after the intervention (post-test), at 1-month follow-up, and at 3-month follow-up.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Living with an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia who has been followed and actively receiving services from a Community Mental Health Center for at least one year. * Being the primary caregiver responsible for the care of the individual diagnosed with schizophrenia. * Having been involved in the care and treatment of the individual diagnosed with schizophrenia for at least 12 months prior to the study. * Being between 18 and 65 years of age. * Being literate. * Being able to speak and understand Turkish. * Willing to participate in the study and providing informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Having a medically diagnosed psychiatric disorder. * Having a diagnosis of an organic mental disorder or intellectual disability. * Having a physical impairment that may interfere with participation in the study or data collection process (e.g., hearing or speech impairment).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perceived Family Burden | Time Frame: Baseline (pre-test), immediately post-intervention (post-test), 1-month follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Change in scores obtained from the Family Burden Scale. |
| Psychological Flexibility | Time Frame: Baseline (pre-test), immediately post-intervention (post-test), 1-month follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Change in scores obtained from the Psychological Flexibility Scale. |
| Expressed Emotion | Time Frame: Baseline (pre-test), immediately post-intervention (post-test), 1-month follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Change in scores obtained from the Expressed Emotion Scale. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
CONTACTSinem Sönmez, Msc
CONTACTHülya ARSLANTAŞ, PhD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHülya Arslantaş
Aydin Adnan Menderes University
Outcome results
None listed