The Psychosocial Effects of Systemic / Family Constellation

Mild to Moderate Psychopathological Symptoms Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Psychosocial Effects of Systemic / Family Constellation: An Observational Follow-up Study

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03233958
• Other study ID #: 325/2017/P
• Status: Completed
• Start date: July 1, 2017
• Est. completion date: October 30, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: February 2021
• Source: Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the psychosocial effects of systemic / family constellation. The method of systemic / family constellation refers to an approach which integrates ideas from family systems therapy with elements from psychodrama. The constellations are conducted in a group based seminar-setting, each seminar lasting two days. Considering the very limited amount of empirical data on this method, the study design is a simple pre-post one with a 6-months follow-up. The study will be observational: the researchers will not manipulate who receives the intervention; instead they invite all clients (individuals from the general population) attending these therapeutic workshops run independently of the research process. Given the limited amount of evidence on this therapeutic method, special attention will be given to monitor potential adverse outcomes to establish intervention safety. It is hypothesized that participation in a family constellation seminar might decrease potential psychological symptoms and will not result in adverse outcomes.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 182
• Est. completion date: October 30, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: October 30, 2020
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Self-referred and registered for a family constellation workshop with one of the therapists (clinical psychologist / psychiatrist) who were willing to collaborate with the researchers of the present study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age under 18 years
• Currently suffers from a diagnosed mental disorder
• Participated actively (not merely as a "representative") in a family constellation intervention in the 12 months preceding baseline assessment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Mild to Moderate Psychopathological Symptoms

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Systemic / family constellation
Systemic / family constellation integrates elements from psychodrama, family sculpture, and spontaneous dramatizations of intra- and interpersonal processes, while spatially visualizing family dynamics. Family constellations stimulate change through the following ways: 1) making visible the spatial arrangement of relationships within a conflictual system; 2) providing access to the insights of unrelated third parties regarding the sensations, feelings, and thoughts they experienced while representing family members within the constellation; and 3) making observable (from the outside) and experienceable (from within) the transformation of the problem constellation into the solution constellation [Hunger, Weinhold, Bornhäuser, Link, & Schweitzer, 2015].

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Hungary	Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary	Budapest

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary	University of Toronto

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Hungary, 

References & Publications (4)

Hunger C, Bornhäuser A, Link L, Schweitzer J, Weinhold J. Improving experience in personal social systems through family constellation seminars: results of a randomized controlled trial. Fam Process. 2014 Jun;53(2):288-306. doi: 10.1111/famp.12051. Epub 2013 Nov 19. — View Citation

Hunger C, Weinhold J, Bornhäuser A, Link L, Schweitzer J. Mid- and long-term effects of family constellation seminars in a general population sample: 8- and 12-month follow-up. Fam Process. 2015 Jun;54(2):344-58. doi: 10.1111/famp.12102. Epub 2014 Sep 29. — View Citation

Konkolÿ Thege B, Petroll C, Rivas C, Scholtens S. The Effectiveness of Family Constellation Therapy in Improving Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Fam Process. 2021 Feb 2. doi: 10.1111/famp.12636. [Epub ahead of print] — View Citation

Weinhold J, Hunger C, Bornhäuser A, Link L, Rochon J, Wild B, Schweitzer J. Family constellation seminars improve psychological functioning in a general population sample: results of a randomized controlled trial. J Couns Psychol. 2013 Oct;60(4):601-9. doi: 10.1037/a0033539. Epub 2013 Aug 19. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory	A broad spectrum of psychopathological symptoms including somatization, obsession-compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism	Before, 1 month after and 6 months after the intervention
Primary	Change in answers to ad hoc items developed for qualitative analysis	These items are developed by the study authors to 1) screen for any potential adverse outcomes as a result of the intervention, 2) better understand the treatment goals of individuals participating in this form of therapy and how these relate to what they perceive as the outcome of the intervention	1 and 6 months after the intervention
Secondary	Change in scores on the Experience in Personal Social Systems Questionnaire	Assessment of how the members of a personal social system experience their situation within that system.	Before, 1 month after and 6 months after the intervention
Secondary	Change in scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire Somatic Symptom Severity Scale (PHQ-15)	The PHQ-15 includes 15 somatic symptoms (headache, stomach pain, chest pain, dizziness, etc.) that account for more than 90% of symptoms seen in primary care (exclusive of upper respiratory symptoms)	Before, 1 month after and 6 months after the intervention
Secondary	Change in scores on the SCOFF	The SCOFF is a brief screener to detect increased risk for eating disorders	Before, 1 month after and 6 months after the intervention
Secondary	Change in scores on ad hoc items to assess behavioral and substance-related addictions	Items assess perceived problem severity with addictions	Before, 1 month after and 6 months after the intervention
Secondary	Change in scores on the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ)	The MLQ assesses the perceived level of the presence and search for meaning in an individual's life	Before, 1 month after and 6 months after the intervention
Secondary	Change in scores on the World Health Organization Wellbeing Index (WBI-5)	The WBI-5 captures the general well-being of the individuals	Before, 1 month after and 6 months after the intervention