The Effect of Psychodrama and Virtual Reality-Supported Psychoeducation on Emotion Recognition Skills in Earthquake Survivors

NCT07754643 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: Faculty of Nursingg
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study examined the effects of psychodrama and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based virtual reality (VR)-supported psychoeducation on facial emotion recognition skills in earthquake survivors using an artificial intelligence-based Facial Emotion Recognition System. It was conducted using a pre-test-post-test randomized quasi-experimental design. The sample consisted of 32 adult earthquake survivors affected by the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes who were residing at the Temporary Accommodation Center. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: a psychodrama group (n=16) and a VR-supported psychoeducation group (n=16). The first experimental group received 13 psychodrama sessions, held once a week, while the second group received CBT-based psychoeducation consisting of 10 sessions held once a week, with VR content incorporated at the end of each session. A Personal Information Form, a Semi-Structured Interview Form, and the Facial Emotion Recognition System were used as data collection tools. Findings based on the Facial Emotion Recognition System revealed that VR-supported psychoeducation produced more pronounced changes in immediate emotional responses, increasing levels of happiness and neutral affect while reducing expressions of fear, sadness, and anger. In conclusion, the results from the Facial Emotion Recognition System indicate that VR-supported psychoeducation had significant positive effects on participants' immediate emotional responses, reducing negative emotions while increasing happiness and neutral affect. In contrast, the psychodrama intervention did not produce a significant change in the measured immediate emotional responses. These findings can contribute to the planning and development of post-disaster mental health services.

Conditions

Psychoeducation; Psychodrama

Keywords

Earthquake; Psychodrama; Virtual Reality; Psychoeducation; Emotion Recognition Skills

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Emotion Recognition Scores for the Psychoeducation and Psychodrama Groups

  A micro-expression is a facial expression that is easily distinguishable and identifiable as a means of communication in social psychology. Facial expressions play an important role in human interaction by providing information about emotions and conveying intentions and goals. In this study, a system comprising six basic human expressions (happy, angry, sad, fearful, surprised, and neutral) was used to classify facial expressions at the macro level. Studies conducted using facial emotion recognition systems demonstrate that facial expression recognition achieves high accuracy using the FER2013 dataset (Shukla et al., 2021; Irhebhude et al., 2023; Yang et al., 2021; Riyantoko et al., 2021; Liu et al., 2021; Echoukairi, 2023). Prior to the start of this study, the researcher tested the Emotion Recognition System in a pilot study involving 20 earthquake survivors whose homes had sustained moderate or severe damage. Approximately 10-minute interviews were conducted with the participant

  5 months

Study Arms (2)

Psychoeducation

EXPERIMENTAL

Psychoeducation

Behavioral: Psychoeducation

Psychodrama

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Psychodrama

Behavioral: Psychodrama

Interventions

Psychodrama BEHAVIORAL

The psychodrama intervention for the first experimental group was conducted by a faculty member from the Department of Psychiatry holding a psychodrama certification and a psychologist holding a co-therapist certification. The program consisted of 13 sessions held once a week, each lasting 90-120 minutes.

Psychodrama

Psychoeducation BEHAVIORAL

The second experimental group received a CBT-based, SG-supported psychoeducation program delivered by a faculty member from the Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling, along with two faculty members from the Department of Psychiatric Nursing who were experienced in leading CBT-based psychoeducation groups. The program consisted of 10 sessions held once a week, each lasting for 60 minutes. The first session was dedicated to introductions and establishing group rules, and the final session was reserved for closing and farewells; thus, SG content was used only during sessions 2 through 9.

Psychoeducation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• The study included individuals aged 25 to 60 who possessed computeror technology skills,
• were open to communication and collaboration,
• had not previously participated in psychoeducation or psychodrama training, and whose homes sustained severe or moderate damage.

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals who were uncommunicative, had a psychiatric diagnosis according to hospital records,
• had vision or hearing problems, had epilepsy,
• had cancer, or were illiterate were excluded from the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Inonu University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Inonu University Faculty of Nursing

Malatya, Battalgazi, 44280, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Psychodrama

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Psychotherapy, Group; Socioenvironmental Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Fidan Balkaya, Research Assistant

  Inonu University Faculty of Nursing

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Asistant

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 30, 2026
• First Posted: August 10, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2024
• Study Completion: April 1, 2025
• Last Updated: August 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)