The Use of Humor With Young Adults in Psychiatric Care

NCT04778163 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CDEVILLE
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 34
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Clinical study in psychiatry in young adult patients between 18 and 25 years old. The aim of the study is to evaluate the therapeutic impact of the clinical use of humor through 6 group sessions (group of 5 to 10 patients), at the rate of one hour session per week for 6 weeks. The investigators will form 2 groups of 5 to 10 patients matched in terms of gender, education level and score on a scale measuring their sense of humor. The participants will be asked to complete a series of tests measuring their ability to use humor, psychiatric symptoms and well-being. Group 1 (test group) will participate in the humor-based sessions, while Group 2 (control group) will receive regular treatment for 6 weeks (waiting list: patients in Group 2 will attend humor-based sessions once Group 1 has completed their 6 weeks). At the end of the 6-week sessions, both groups will receive the same series of pre-session tests to see whether or not there has been improvement in their overall functioning, psychiatric symptomatology and appreciation/use of humor. At the end of the 2x 6-week sessions, group 2 will again receive this series of pre-session tests to see whether or not their overall functioning, psychiatric symptomatology and appreciation/use of humour has improved. Objective(s)/Aim: To evaluate the resilience of young adult psychiatric patients and their ability to cope with stress through the use of humor in a set of 6 modules on the use of humor. To evaluate the symptoms. Outcome/Endpoints : Using scales, measure this evolution.

Conditions

Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Psychiatric Disorder

Keywords

Young people; Young adults; Humor; Psychotherapy; Group psychotherapy; Resilience

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Primary outcome is sense of humor using scale : Sense of Humor Scale (from 36 to 144 : higher scores mean a better outcome).

  To evaluate whether or not their appreciation/use of humor has improved.

  About three years

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Coping evolution using scale : Coping Humor Scale (from (-14) to (+14) : higher scores mean a better outcome).

  About three years

• Psychiatric symptoms evolution using scale : Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (from 24 to 168 : higher scores mean a worse outcome).

  About three years

• Global functioning using scales : Global Assessment Functioning (from 1 to 100 : higher scores mean a better outcome).

  About three years

• Clinical global impression using scale : Clinical Global Impression (from 1 to 7 : higher scores mean a worse outcome).

  About three years

Study Arms (2)

Humor group 1

EXPERIMENTAL

Group 1 - experimental - will participate in a "humor group" with a one-hour group session per week for 6 weeks.

Behavioral: Clinical use of humor

Control group 2

NO INTERVENTION

Group 2 - the control group - will follow an usual treatment regimen for 6 weeks. At the end of the "Humor Group" of group 1, the 2 groups of patients will undergo a second series of tests identical to those of the pregroup. The paired patients should be randomly assigned. The control group will do the "Humor Group" after 6 weeks.

Interventions

Clinical use of humor BEHAVIORAL

Clinical study in psychiatry in young adult patients between 18 and 25 years old. The aim of the study is to evaluate the therapeutic impact of the clinical use of humor through 6 group sessions (group of 5 to 10 patients), at the rate of one hour session per week for 6 weeks. The investigators will form 2 groups of 5 to 10 patients matched in terms of gender, education level and score on a scale measuring their sense of humor. The participants will be asked to complete a series of tests measuring their ability to use humor, psychiatric symptoms and well-being.

Also known as: Treatment, Group psychotherapy

Humor group 1

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Young adult patients of a psychiatric's unit (young people from 18 to 25 years old with beginner psychic disorders) who are French-speaking and able to give their informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Those who do not meet the above criteria.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital, Geneva: lead

Study Sites (1)

Programme JADE

Geneva, 1202, Switzerland

Location

Related Publications (16)

• Bozikas VP, Kosmidis MH, Giannakou M, Anezoulaki D, Petrikis P, Fokas K, Karavatos A. Humor appreciation deficit in schizophrenia: the relevance of basic neurocognitive functioning. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2007 Apr;195(4):325-31. doi: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000243798.10242.e2.

  PMID: 17435483 BACKGROUND

• Compas BE, Connor-Smith JK, Saltzman H, Thomsen AH, Wadsworth ME. Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence: problems, progress, and potential in theory and research. Psychol Bull. 2001 Jan;127(1):87-127.

  PMID: 11271757 BACKGROUND

• Corcoran R, Cahill C, Frith CD. The appreciation of visual jokes in people with schizophrenia: a study of 'mentalizing' ability. Schizophr Res. 1997 Apr 11;24(3):319-27. doi: 10.1016/s0920-9964(96)00117-x.

  PMID: 9134592 BACKGROUND

• Corrigan PW, Powell KJ, Fokuo JK, Kosyluk KA. Does humor influence the stigma of mental illnesses? J Nerv Ment Dis. 2014 May;202(5):397-401. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000138.

  PMID: 24727719 BACKGROUND

• Franzini LR. Humor in therapy: the case for training therapists in its uses and risks. J Gen Psychol. 2001 Apr;128(2):170-93. doi: 10.1080/00221300109598906.

  PMID: 11506047 BACKGROUND

• Valentine L, Gabbard GO. Can the use of humor in psychotherapy be taught? Acad Psychiatry. 2014 Feb;38(1):75-81. doi: 10.1007/s40596-013-0018-2.

  PMID: 24430586 BACKGROUND

• Ventura J, Nuechterlein KH, Subotnik KL, Gutkind D, Gilbert EA. Symptom dimensions in recent-onset schizophrenia and mania: a principal components analysis of the 24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Psychiatry Res. 2000 Dec 27;97(2-3):129-35. doi: 10.1016/s0165-1781(00)00228-6.

  PMID: 11166085 BACKGROUND

• Derouesne C. [Neuropsychology of humor: an introduction Part 1. Psychological data]. Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2016 Mar;14(1):95-103. doi: 10.1684/pnv.2016.0583. French.

  PMID: 27005341 BACKGROUND

• Etienne E, Braha S, Januel D. [Humour and the theory of mind in schizophrenia: a review of the literature]. Encephale. 2012 Apr;38(2):164-9. doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2011.03.008. Epub 2011 Jul 5. French.

  PMID: 22516275 BACKGROUND

• McGhee, P. (1994). How to develop your sense of humor. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt.

  BACKGROUND

• Rengade, C.E. (2014). L'humour en thérapie cognitive et comportementale. J thér comport cogn, 24(1), 1-4.

  BACKGROUND

• Salameh, W.A. (1983). Humor in psychotherapy: past outlooks, present status, and future frontiers. In: McGhee, P.E., Goldstein, J.H., editors. Handbook of humor research. Volume II Applied studies. New York: Springer, 61-88.

  BACKGROUND

• Ventura, J., Green, M.F., Shaner, A., Liberman, R.P. (1993). Training and quality assurance with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale: "The drift busters". International Journal of Methods in Psychiatry Research, 3, 221-224.

  BACKGROUND

• Cai C, Yu L, Rong L, Zhong H. Effectiveness of humor intervention for patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial. J Psychiatr Res. 2014 Dec;59:174-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.09.010. Epub 2014 Sep 19.

  PMID: 25266473 RESULT

• Falkenberg I, Buchkremer G, Bartels M, Wild B. Implementation of a manual-based training of humor abilities in patients with depression: a pilot study. Psychiatry Res. 2011 Apr 30;186(2-3):454-7. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2010.10.009. Epub 2010 Nov 11.

  PMID: 21071099 RESULT

• Rudnick A, Kohn PM, Edwards KR, Podnar D, Caird S, Martin R. Humour-related interventions for people with mental illness: a randomized controlled pilot study. Community Ment Health J. 2014 Aug;50(6):737-42. doi: 10.1007/s10597-013-9685-4. Epub 2013 Dec 12.

  PMID: 24337476 RESULT

Related Links

• Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Mental Disorders

Interventions

Therapeutics; Psychotherapy, Group

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Health Behavior; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Socioenvironmental Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Cédric AM Devillé, Dr

  University Hospital, Geneva

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Medical Doctor

Model Details: A treatment arm receives a psychotherapeutic group intervention (based on humor with cognitive behavioural and psychoeducative approaches) over a period 6 weeks. A control arm is placed on a 6 week waiting list.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 30, 2021
• First Posted: March 2, 2021
• Study Start: September 19, 2019
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2022
• Study Completion: October 31, 2022
• Last Updated: November 1, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CH (1)