Addiction
Conditions
Keywords
Problematic Pornography Use, Pornography Craving, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, group Psychotherapy
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of short-term psychodynamic group therapy for problematic pornography use in young adult men. Participants were assigned to either a psychodynamic group therapy intervention or a control condition. The intervention consisted of 16 online group therapy sessions. The study examined changes in pornography craving, emotion regulation difficulties, shame, and guilt. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention and at follow-up.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALShort-Term Psychodynamic Group Therapy
The intervention consisted of 16 online psychodynamic group therapy sessions, each lasting approximately 90 minutes. Sessions were conducted in a group format via Google Meet. The intervention focused on psychodynamic exploration of problematic pornography use, including associated emotions, interpersonal patterns, internal conflicts, and difficulties in emotion regulation.
Sponsors
Harun Ismail Incekara
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Male sex * Aged 18-30 years * At least a high school education * Pornography use on at least 3 days per week * Meeting the study's screening criterion for problematic pornography use * Providing informed consent and willingness to participate in the intervention and assessments
Exclusion criteria
* Self-reported history of a severe psychiatric disorder * Self-reported history of substance dependence * Severe psychological distress requiring individual psychiatric intervention
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pornography Craving Questionnaire (PCQ) Score | Baseline, Week 8, and 3-month follow-up | Pornography craving was assessed using the Pornography Craving Questionnaire (PCQ). Higher scores indicate greater pornography craving. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16) Score | Baseline, Week 8, and 3-month follow-up | The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16) was used to assess difficulties in emotion regulation. The scale consists of 16 items rated from 1 to 5, yielding a total score ranging from 16 to 80. Higher scores indicate greater difficulties in emotion regulation and therefore a worse outcome. |
| Trait Shame and Guilt Scale - Shame Subscale Score | Baseline, Week 8, and 3-month follow-up | Shame was assessed using the shame subscale of the Trait Shame and Guilt Scale (TSGS). The mean subscale score ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater levels of shame and therefore a worse outcome. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed