EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY FOR HOPE IN PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

NCT07453355 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: OMU-SCH-EAT-RCT-2025OMU-ETHICS-2024-1305
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an expressive arts therapy programme based on positive psychotherapy principles in strengthening hope among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Hope is a central component of recovery in schizophrenia, yet structured nursing interventions specifically targeting hope remain limited. The study was conducted with 50 inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia at a mental health hospital in Türkiye. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group participated in an eight-session expressive arts therapy programme delivered in small groups, while the control group received standard psychiatric care. Hope levels were assessed before and after the intervention using the Herth Hope Scale. The findings demonstrated that participants who received expressive arts therapy showed significant improvements in overall hope and its key dimensions, including future orientation, positive readiness and expectancy, and connectedness, compared with those receiving standard care. This study suggests that expressive arts therapy may be an effective recovery-oriented nursing intervention to strengthen hope and support psychological recovery in individuals with schizophrenia.

Conditions

Mental Disease; şizofreni

Keywords

Expressive Arts Therapy; Art Therapy; Hope; Psychiatric Nursing; Psychosocial Intervention; Randomized Controlled Trial; Positive Psychotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Hope Level Measured by the Herth Hope Scale

  Hope level will be assessed using the Herth Hope Scale (HHS), a validated 12-item self-report instrument with scores ranging from 12 to 48. Higher scores indicate higher levels of hope.

  Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention (4 weeks)

• Herth Hope Scale

  Changes in Herth Hope Scale subscale scores (future orientation, positive readiness and expectancy, and interconnectedness) will be evaluated.

  Baseline and immediately after completion of the 8-session intervention (approximately 4 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Herth Hope Scale Subscale Scores

  Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Expressive Arts Therapy Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm received an expressive arts therapy programme based on positive psychotherapy principles in addition to standard psychiatric care. The programme consisted of eight structured group sessions delivered face-to-face in small groups. Each session included psychoeducation, creative expression activities such as drawing, collage, and metaphor work, and group sharing. The intervention aimed to strengthen hope and support psychological recovery.

Behavioral: Expressive Arts Therapy

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this arm received standard psychiatric inpatient care only. Standard care included routine pharmacological treatment, clinical monitoring, and nursing care. No additional psychosocial or expressive arts therapy intervention was provided during the study period.

Interventions

Expressive Arts Therapy BEHAVIORAL

Intervention Description (Kopyalayın) An expressive arts therapy programme based on positive psychotherapy principles was delivered in small groups. The programme consisted of eight structured sessions conducted face-to-face. Each session included psychoeducation, creative expression activities such as drawing, collage, storytelling, and metaphor work, and group sharing. The intervention aimed to strengthen hope, enhance emotional expression, and support psychological recovery in individuals with schizophrenia.

Expressive Arts Therapy Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of schizophrenia according to clinical evaluation
• Age between 18 and 65 years
• Hospitalized in a psychiatric inpatient unit
• At least six months since diagnosis
• Ability to read and understand assessment tools
• Clinically stable without acute psychotic symptoms
• Provided written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Severe cognitive impairment
• Acute psychotic symptoms requiring intensive treatment
• Severe physical illness preventing participation
• Refusal to participate or withdrawal of consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ondokuz Mayıs University: lead

Study Sites (1)

samsun Mental Health Hospital

Atakent, Samsun, 55200, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The study was single-blind. The data analyst responsible for statistical analysis was blinded to group allocation. Participants and care providers were not blinded due to the nature of the intervention.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the expressive arts therapy intervention group or the control group using a computer-generated randomization list prepared by an independent statistician. The intervention group received an eight-session expressive arts therapy programme delivered in small groups, in addition to standard psychiatric care. The control group received standard psychiatric care only. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention. The study followed a parallel-group design, and the data analyst was blinded to group allocation.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 1, 2026
• First Posted: March 6, 2026
• Study Start: July 22, 2025
• Primary Completion: October 30, 2025
• Study Completion: January 13, 2026
• Last Updated: March 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)