Analytical psychodrama with college students suffering from mental health problems: Preliminary outcomes

Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of analytical psychodrama groups for college students with psychological problems. Analytical psychodrama, as a form of group psychotherapy, is an integral part of the program of treatment of young adults in the Counselling Center of the University of Bologna, which provides a free service for its students, aimed at delivering psychological support. Thirty patients (22 females) from 20 to 26 years old (mean age 22.33, standard deviation±1.75), suffering from mental health problems, who completed one year of psychodrama, were assessed before and after group psychotherapy. The Italian validation of Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation -Outcome Measure was used as test-retest questionnaire for clinical outcome evaluation. The results demonstrated the efficacy of the treatment in terms of symptom decrease and improvement of patients' well being. After the treatment (40 sessions, once a week), patients showed a statistically significant reduction in clinical outcomes scores compared with pre-treatment scores. Moreover, the analyses of Reliable and Clinical Significant Change index showed that about 30% of patients improved, and this improvement was reliable and/or clinically significant. Our preliminary findings revealed that analytical psychodrama is a suitable treatment for college students, as it actually reduces young adults' symptoms. These results contribute to the topic of the validity of psychodrama interventions to encourage research regarding the specific psychotherapeutic effects of its method.

Integrative systematic review of psychodrama psychotherapy research: Trends and methodological implications

“…As seen in Table 3, the number of participants in the six single group studies ranged from 12 to 30 ( M = 21, SD = 7.76). Three studies involved children and/or adolescents [29, 40, 41] and two studies involved university students: one on anger management problems in Turkey [42] and one on mental health conditions in Italy [43]. One study consisted of both adults with mental health conditions and students in Israel [44].…”

“…In five studies, PD treatment was delivered in a group format, of which one study used a 3-stage protocol for psychoeducation sessions based on PD and some cognitive-behavioral techniques [42], in one group analytical PD was used with a protocol that was not reported [43], and the other four group PD studies followed the standard three PD phase structure. One study was delivered in an individual format, but some sessions were also attended by the adolescent’s or child’s parents [40].…”

“…One study was delivered in an individual format, but some sessions were also attended by the adolescent’s or child’s parents [40]. In three studies, session duration ranged from 1.25 to 2 hours per week, and the number of sessions ranged from 16 to 40 [29, 43, 44]. In two studies PD was delivered twice a month [40, 42] and in one study in a 3-day format with unspecified hours [41].…”

“…In two studies PD was delivered twice a month [40, 42] and in one study in a 3-day format with unspecified hours [41]. Information concerning the qualification of the therapists was provided in only three of the six studies [29, 43, 44]. One study indicated that the PD director was “one of the researchers” [41] and another study indicated that participants were treated “by the author” [40].…”

‘And yet I’m an adult now’. The influence of parental criticism on women’s body satisfaction/dissatisfaction during emerging adulthood

“…with the development of significant relationships (Collins & Laursen, 2004). In addition to stressful circumstances related to academic performances, late adolescents may have to cope with the task of taking on more responsibilities without having yet learned the skills of adulthood (Biolcati, Agostini et al, 2017). Here, a central challenge is separating from the home and managing independent living.…”