Effect of Psychoeducation on Internalized Stigma and Anxiety in Patients Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy

NCT07586358 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: NEU-PhDHEM-2026-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of a psychoeducational programme on internalised stigma and anxiety levels in patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The study aimed to determine whether the psychoeducational intervention reduces internalised stigma related to mental illness and improves anxiety outcomes compared to routine nursing care. The primary questions addressed were: Does the psychoeducational programme reduce internalised stigma in patients receiving ECT? Does the intervention decrease state and trait anxiety levels compared to routine care? Researchers compared a psychoeducational intervention group with a control group receiving routine nursing care to assess the effects of the programme on psychological outcomes. Participants in the intervention group: Received a six-session psychoeducational programme delivered individually over six weeks Completed pre-test and post-test assessments using standardized measurement tools Participants in the control group received routine psychiatric nursing care and completed the same assessment measures at equivalent time points.

Conditions

Mental Illnesses; Internalised Stigma; Psychoeducation; Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT); Psychiatric Nursing

Keywords

Mental Illness; Electroconvulsive Therapy; Internalised Stigma; Anxiety; Psychoeducation; Psychiatric Nursing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Internalised Stigma Scale for Mental Illness (ISMI)

  Change in internalized stigma levels in patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), measured using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI). Higher scores indicate higher levels of internalized stigma.

  Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• State Anxiety Score (STAI-State)

  Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention

• Trait Anxiety Score (STAI-Trait)

  Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Psychoeducation Group (Arm 1)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received a structured psychoeducational programme in addition to routine psychiatric care.

Behavioral: Psychoeducational Programme

Routine Care Group (Arm 2)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm received routine psychiatric nursing care provided in the inpatient psychiatric clinic without any additional psychoeducational intervention.

Other: Routine Psychiatric Nursing Care

Interventions

Psychoeducational Programme BEHAVIORAL

A structured psychoeducational programme consisting of six individual face-to-face sessions delivered over six weeks by the researcher. The programme aimed to reduce internalised stigma and anxiety in patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and included education about illness, treatment process, coping strategies, and emotional support.

Psychoeducation Group (Arm 1)

Routine Psychiatric Nursing Care OTHER

Standard psychiatric nursing care provided during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatment. No structured psychoeducational programme was applied.

Routine Care Group (Arm 2)

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Able to read and write in Turkish
• At least primary school graduate
• Diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder
• Inpatients in a psychiatric clinic
• Receiving or scheduled to receive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• No severe agitation or homicidal risk as determined by the treating psychiatrist
• Voluntary consent to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of organic mental disorders (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer's disease, delirium)
• Intellectual disability
• History of alcohol or substance dependence
• Not completing at least 4 ECT sessions during the treatment process

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Konya Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi: lead

Study Sites (1)

Necmettin Erbakan University

Konya, Meram, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders; Anxiety Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: No additional parties were masked beyond participants.
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer, Phd(c)

Model Details: The type of research is a pre-test and post-test, control group randomised controlled experimental study.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 8, 2026
• First Posted: May 14, 2026
• Study Start: August 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 20, 2025
• Study Completion: April 21, 2026
• Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)