Psychodrama Group Therapy for Breakup Distress and Relationship Adjustment: A Randomized Trial

NCT07658248 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Ref.ª 2025-02-01b (CdE FPCEUP)
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether a psychodrama group therapy intervention can reduce unresolved breakup distress and improve dyadic adjustment in adults currently involved in romantic relationships who have experienced a significant previous breakup. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

• Does participation in psychodrama group therapy reduce breakup distress compared with a waiting-list control condition?
• Does participation in psychodrama group therapy improve dyadic adjustment and relationship functioning compared with a waiting-list control condition? The researchers will compare participants receiving the psychodrama group therapy intervention with participants in a waiting-list control condition to determine whether the intervention leads to greater improvements in breakup distress, dyadic adjustment, psychological functioning, relationship quality, and sexual satisfaction. Participants will:
• complete assessments at baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks;
• participate in a 15-session weekly psychodrama group therapy program (intervention group only);
• complete questionnaires assessing breakup distress, dyadic adjustment, psychological outcomes, relationship quality, and sexual satisfaction.

Conditions

Breakup Distress; Dyadic Adjustment

Keywords

Psychodrama; Breakup Distress; Dyadic Adjustment; group psychotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Breakup Distress

  Assessment of breakup-related emotional distress using the Breakup Distress Scale (BDS). The BDS is a 16-item self-report measure assessing emotional distress associated with a previous romantic relationship breakup. Higher scores indicate greater breakup distress.

  Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks

• Change in Dyadic Adjustment

  Assessment of relationship functioning using the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS). The RDAS is a 14-item self-report measure evaluating overall dyadic adjustment and the dimensions of consensus, satisfaction, and cohesion within the current romantic relationship. Higher scores indicate better dyadic adjustment.

  Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Psychological Functioning

  Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks

• Change in Perceived Relationship Quality

  Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks

• Change in Sexual Satisfaction

  Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks

Other Outcomes (3)

• Therapeutic Change as Reported by Participants

  During sessions 1-15 and at 16 weeks (intervention group only)

• Helpful and Hindering Aspects of Therapy

  After each intervention session 1-15 (intervention group only)

• Participant Experience of Therapeutic Change

  16 weeks and 42 weeks (intervention group only)

Study Arms (2)

Psychodrama Group Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm will receive a structured psychodrama group therapy intervention consisting of 15 weekly sessions delivered in a closed-group format. Sessions are facilitated by trained psychodrama practitioners and focus on emotional processing of unresolved breakup distress, exploration of relational and attachment patterns, emotional communication, intimacy, trust, and dyadic adjustment in current romantic relationships.

Behavioral: Psychodrama Group Therapy for Unresolved Breakup Distress and Dyadic Adjustment

Waiting-List Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to this arm will remain on a waiting list during the study period and will not receive the psychodrama intervention. They will complete all study assessments at the same time points as the intervention group and will be offered the opportunity to participate in the psychodrama program after completion of the follow-up assessments.

Interventions

Psychodrama Group Therapy for Unresolved Breakup Distress and Dyadic Adjustment BEHAVIORAL

A manualized psychodrama group therapy program delivered in 15 weekly sessions of approximately 90-120 minutes. The intervention is based on Morenian psychodrama principles and uses techniques such as role reversal, soliloquy, mirroring, sociometry, sculpting, and dramatization to facilitate emotional processing of previous romantic relationship losses and promote healthier functioning in current romantic relationships. The program is delivered in a closed-group format by trained psychodrama practitioners.

Psychodrama Group Therapy

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 or older;
• Currently involved in a romantic relationship for at least 6 months;
• History of at least one significant previous romantic relationship breakup;
• Presence of breakup distress related to a previous romantic breakup and/or difficulties in current dyadic adjustment;
• Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of severe mental disorder that may interfere with participation in group psychotherapy;
• Severe active substance dependence;
• Current severe relational violence;
• Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent;
• Any clinical condition that, in the opinion of the research team, may compromise safe participation in the intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidade do Porto: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto

Porto, Porto District, 4200-135, Portugal

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Mariana V Martins, PhD

  Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Filipa M Vieira, PhD

  Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto

  STUDY CHAIR

• Filipe N Ribeiro, PhD Student

  Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Filipe N Ribeiro, PhD Student

CONTACT

(+351) 915457227; up202408511@edu.fpce.up.pt

Mariana V Martins, PhD

CONTACT

(+351) 220400667; mmartins@fpceu.up.pt

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Blinding is not feasible because of the nature of the psychodrama group therapy intervention. Participants and therapists are aware of treatment allocation. Data analysis will be conducted independently whenever possible.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Filipe Nunes Ribeiro, PhD Student

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a psychodrama group therapy intervention or a waiting-list control condition. The intervention group will receive a structured 15-session psychodrama group therapy program delivered weekly in a closed-group format. The waiting-list control group will not receive the study intervention during the study period but will be offered the opportunity to participate in the program after completion of follow-up assessments. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention (16 weeks), and follow-up (42 weeks). The study is designed to compare changes over time between groups in order to evaluate the effectiveness of psychodrama group therapy relative to the absence of active treatment during the study period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 14, 2026
• First Posted: June 18, 2026
• Study Start: September 23, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2027
• Last Updated: June 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PT (1)