Efficacy of Family / Systemic Constellation Therapy in the General Population. A Randomized Wait-list Controlled Trial
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Mild to Moderate Psychopathological Symptoms
- Sponsor
- Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary
- Enrollment
- 80
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Brief Symptom Inventory Scores
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 7 months ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of systemic / family constellation therapy in improving mild-moderate psychopathological symptoms and overall wellbeing in the general population. Given the limited amount of evidence on this therapeutic method, special attention will be given to monitor potential adverse outcomes to establish intervention safety. The study will use a randomized, wait-list controlled design and a 6-month follow-up time. This is the second study of this nature following a similar study from Germany.
Detailed Description
Family/systemic constellation therapy is a system-oriented, short-term group counseling intervention aiming to help clients better understand and resolve their conflicts within their intra- or interpersonal systems, which in turn might lead to a decrease in psychopathological and functional somatic symptoms as well as improvement in overall quality of life. This intervention modality was developed in Germany in the early 1990s integrating elements of - among others - psychodrama, family sculptures, contextual therapy, and certain South-African aboriginal traditions. Compared to its widespread use by therapists of various theoretical and professional backgrounds all over the world, little effort has been made to generate empirical data regarding the efficacy and safety of this intervention and the overall quality and quantity of the extant evidence is low. Authors of the only (although high-quality) previous randomized controlled trial to date into the efficacy of systemic constellations reported that the intervention was efficacious in reducing general, non-diagnosis-specific psychopathology and psychological distress both in the short- as well as middle- and long term. A recent systematic review summarizing both the peer-reviewed and the grey literature on the mental health effects of systemic constellation therapy concluded that further studies into its efficacy and effectiveness are greatly needed, especially if employing 1) a controlled, ideally randomized-controlled design, 2) at least mid-term follow-up (≥6 months) to evaluate client outcomes and 3) active monitoring of potential iatrogenic effects. In line with these recommendations, the aim of the present study - when designed - was to collect and analyze further data on the efficacy of systemic constellation therapy in its traditional format in improving mental health. However, the COVID pandemic required the intervention providers to make substantial changes to the usual treatment protocol; therefore, the study in its final form rather serves the purpose of investigating the efficacy of a pandemic-adjusted version of family/systemic constellation workshops than that of the intervention in general.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Ability to participate in the in-person intervention on the date randomly assigned to them
Exclusion Criteria
- •Participation in family / systemic constellation therapy within the 12 months prior to study launch
- •Current mental disorder diagnosed by an eligible health care professional
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Brief Symptom Inventory Scores
Time Frame: 6 month post-intervention
The Brief Symptom Inventory is a a broad-spectrum measure of psychopathology covering 9 symptom dimensions: Somatization, Obsessive-compulsive symptoms, Interpersonal sensitivity, Depression, Anxiety, Hostility, Phobic anxiety, Paranoid ideation, and Psychoticism. The BSI also includes a global index of distress (the General Severity Index, GSI) that reflects the mean of all items, which is used here. The GSI ranges between 0 to 4, higher scores indicative of a higher degree of symptom severity.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Eating Disorder Risk Assessed by the SCOFF Screening Test(6 month post-intervention)
- Change in Substance- and Behavioral Addiction Severity Assessed by the SSBA-G(6 month post-intervention)
- Change in Quality of Life Specific to Interpersonal Relationships Using the Experience in Personal Social Systems Questionnaire (EXIS.Pers)(6 month post-intervention)
- Change in Perceived Level of Meaning in Life Using the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ)(6 month post-intervention)
- Change in Life Satisfaction Using the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)(6 month post-intervention)
- Change in General Well-being Using the 5-item Version of the WHO Wellbeing Index (WBI-5)(6 month post-intervention)
- Perceived Negative Effects of the Intervention Using ad Hoc Questions(6 month post-intervention)