CompletedNot Applicable

EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY FOR HOPE IN PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Turkey (Türkiye)50 participantsStarted 2025-07-22

Plain-language summary

This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an expressive arts therapy programme based on positive psychotherapy principles in strengthening hope among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Hope is a central component of recovery in schizophrenia, yet structured nursing interventions specifically targeting hope remain limited. The study was conducted with 50 inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia at a mental health hospital in Türkiye. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group participated in an eight-session expressive arts therapy programme delivered in small groups, while the control group received standard psychiatric care. Hope levels were assessed before and after the intervention using the Herth Hope Scale. The findings demonstrated that participants who received expressive arts therapy showed significant improvements in overall hope and its key dimensions, including future orientation, positive readiness and expectancy, and connectedness, compared with those receiving standard care. This study suggests that expressive arts therapy may be an effective recovery-oriented nursing intervention to strengthen hope and support psychological recovery in individuals with schizophrenia.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria * Diagnosis of schizophrenia according to clinical evaluation * Age between 18 and 65 years * Hospitalized in a psychiatric inpatient unit * At least six months since diagnosis * Ability to read and understand assessment tools * Clinically stable without acute psychotic symptoms * Provided written informed consent Exclusion Criteria * Severe cognitive impairment * Acute psychotic symptoms requiring intensive treatment * Severe physical illness preventing participation * Refusal to participate or withdrawal of consent

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Hope Level Measured by the Herth Hope Scale

Timeframe: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention (4 weeks)

Herth Hope Scale

Timeframe: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 8-session intervention (approximately 4 weeks)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07453355

SponsorOndokuz Mayıs University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-10-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Mental Disease trials