The Use of Humor With Young Adults in Psychiatric Care

Psychiatric Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Use of Humor With Young Adults in Psychiatric Care

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04778163
• Other study ID #: CDEVILLE
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 19, 2019
• Est. completion date: October 31, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: October 2022
• Source: University Hospital, Geneva
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Clinical study in psychiatry in young adult patients between 18 and 25 years old. The aim of the study is to evaluate the therapeutic impact of the clinical use of humor through 6 group sessions (group of 5 to 10 patients), at the rate of one hour session per week for 6 weeks.

The investigators will form 2 groups of 5 to 10 patients matched in terms of gender, education level and score on a scale measuring their sense of humor. The participants will be asked to complete a series of tests measuring their ability to use humor, psychiatric symptoms and well-being.

Group 1 (test group) will participate in the humor-based sessions, while Group 2 (control group) will receive regular treatment for 6 weeks (waiting list: patients in Group 2 will attend humor-based sessions once Group 1 has completed their 6 weeks).

At the end of the 6-week sessions, both groups will receive the same series of pre-session tests to see whether or not there has been improvement in their overall functioning, psychiatric symptomatology and appreciation/use of humor.

At the end of the 2x 6-week sessions, group 2 will again receive this series of pre-session tests to see whether or not their overall functioning, psychiatric symptomatology and appreciation/use of humour has improved.

Objective(s)/Aim:

To evaluate the resilience of young adult psychiatric patients and their ability to cope with stress through the use of humor in a set of 6 modules on the use of humor.

To evaluate the symptoms.

Outcome/Endpoints :

Using scales, measure this evolution.

Description:

Project design and procedures :

The investigators will form 2 groups of 5 to 10 patients matched on their score on the sense of humor scale, their gender and their level of education. The participants will be asked to complete a series of tests measuring their ability to use humor, clinical variables and general functioning.

Group 1 - experimental - will participate in a "humor group" with a one-hour group session per week for 6 weeks.

Group 2 - the control group - will follow a usual treatment regimen for 6 weeks. At the end of the "Humor Group" of group 1, the 2 groups of patients will undergo a second series of tests identical to those of the pregroup. The paired patients should be randomly assigned. The control group will do the "Humor Group" after 6 weeks.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 34
• Est. completion date: October 31, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: June 30, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 25 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Young adult patients of a psychiatric's unit (young people from 18 to 25 years old with beginner psychic disorders) who are French-speaking and able to give their informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who do not meet the above criteria.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Mental Disorders
• Problem Behavior
• Psychiatric Disorder
• Treatment Adherence and Compliance

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Clinical use of humor
Clinical study in psychiatry in young adult patients between 18 and 25 years old. The aim of the study is to evaluate the therapeutic impact of the clinical use of humor through 6 group sessions (group of 5 to 10 patients), at the rate of one hour session per week for 6 weeks. The investigators will form 2 groups of 5 to 10 patients matched in terms of gender, education level and score on a scale measuring their sense of humor. The participants will be asked to complete a series of tests measuring their ability to use humor, psychiatric symptoms and well-being.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Switzerland	Programme JADE	Geneva

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University Hospital, Geneva

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Switzerland, 

References & Publications (16)

Bozikas VP, Kosmidis MH, Giannakou M, Anezoulaki D, Petrikis P, Fokas K, Karavatos A. Humor appreciation deficit in schizophrenia: the relevance of basic neurocognitive functioning. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2007 Apr;195(4):325-31. — View Citation

Cai C, Yu L, Rong L, Zhong H. Effectiveness of humor intervention for patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial. J Psychiatr Res. 2014 Dec;59:174-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.09.010. Epub 2014 Sep 19. — View Citation

Compas BE, Connor-Smith JK, Saltzman H, Thomsen AH, Wadsworth ME. Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence: problems, progress, and potential in theory and research. Psychol Bull. 2001 Jan;127(1):87-127. Review. — View Citation

Corcoran R, Cahill C, Frith CD. The appreciation of visual jokes in people with schizophrenia: a study of 'mentalizing' ability. Schizophr Res. 1997 Apr 11;24(3):319-27. — View Citation

Corrigan PW, Powell KJ, Fokuo JK, Kosyluk KA. Does humor influence the stigma of mental illnesses? J Nerv Ment Dis. 2014 May;202(5):397-401. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000138. — View Citation

Derouesné C. [Neuropsychology of humor: an introduction Part 1. Psychological data]. Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2016 Mar;14(1):95-103. doi: 10.1684/pnv.2016.0583. Review. French. — View Citation

Etienne E, Braha S, Januel D. [Humour and the theory of mind in schizophrenia: a review of the literature]. Encephale. 2012 Apr;38(2):164-9. doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2011.03.008. Epub 2011 Jul 5. Review. French. — View Citation

Falkenberg I, Buchkremer G, Bartels M, Wild B. Implementation of a manual-based training of humor abilities in patients with depression: a pilot study. Psychiatry Res. 2011 Apr 30;186(2-3):454-7. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2010.10.009. Epub 2010 Nov 11. — View Citation

Franzini LR. Humor in therapy: the case for training therapists in its uses and risks. J Gen Psychol. 2001 Apr;128(2):170-93. Review. — View Citation

McGhee, P. (1994). How to develop your sense of humor. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt.

Rengade, C.E. (2014). L'humour en thérapie cognitive et comportementale. J thér comport cogn, 24(1), 1-4.

Rudnick A, Kohn PM, Edwards KR, Podnar D, Caird S, Martin R. Humour-related interventions for people with mental illness: a randomized controlled pilot study. Community Ment Health J. 2014 Aug;50(6):737-42. doi: 10.1007/s10597-013-9685-4. Epub 2013 Dec 12 — View Citation

Salameh, W.A. (1983). Humor in psychotherapy: past outlooks, present status, and future frontiers. In: McGhee, P.E., Goldstein, J.H., editors. Handbook of humor research. Volume II Applied studies. New York: Springer, 61-88.

Valentine L, Gabbard GO. Can the use of humor in psychotherapy be taught? Acad Psychiatry. 2014 Feb;38(1):75-81. doi: 10.1007/s40596-013-0018-2. Review. — View Citation

Ventura J, Nuechterlein KH, Subotnik KL, Gutkind D, Gilbert EA. Symptom dimensions in recent-onset schizophrenia and mania: a principal components analysis of the 24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Psychiatry Res. 2000 Dec 27;97(2-3):129-35. — View Citation

Ventura, J., Green, M.F., Shaner, A., Liberman, R.P. (1993). Training and quality assurance with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale: "The drift busters". International Journal of Methods in Psychiatry Research, 3, 221-224.

* Note: There are 16 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Primary outcome is sense of humor using scale : Sense of Humor Scale (from 36 to 144 : higher scores mean a better outcome).	To evaluate whether or not their appreciation/use of humor has improved.	About three years
Secondary	Coping evolution using scale : Coping Humor Scale (from (-14) to (+14) : higher scores mean a better outcome).	To evaluate whether or not the coping evolution has improved.	About three years
Secondary	Psychiatric symptoms evolution using scale : Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (from 24 to 168 : higher scores mean a worse outcome).	To evaluate whether or not the overall psychiatric symptomatology has improved.	About three years
Secondary	Global functioning using scales : Global Assessment Functioning (from 1 to 100 : higher scores mean a better outcome).	To evaluate whether or not the overall functioning has improved.	About three years
Secondary	Clinical global impression using scale : Clinical Global Impression (from 1 to 7 : higher scores mean a worse outcome).	To evaluate whether or not the overall global clinical impression has improved.	About three years

External Links

•   Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor