Efficacy of Family Constellations in the General Population

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-07-19

Study Completion Date

2022-04-25

Brief Summary

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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.

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Detailed Description

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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.

Conditions

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Mild to Moderate Psychopathological Symptoms

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Intervention group

Study participants participating in family constellation therapy between assessment 1 and 2.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Family / systemic constellation therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Family / systemic constellation therapy is a short-term group counseling intervention aiming to help clients better understand and resolve their conflicts within their personal systems, which in turn might lead to a decrease in psychopathological or functional somatic symptoms. The personal system addressed is most often the family but other inter- or intrapersonal systems (e.g., ego parts, victim-perpetrator dyads) can also be the target of the intervention.

Wait-list control group

Study participants participating in family constellation therapy only after all 3 assessment points.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Family / systemic constellation therapy

Family / systemic constellation therapy is a short-term group counseling intervention aiming to help clients better understand and resolve their conflicts within their personal systems, which in turn might lead to a decrease in psychopathological or functional somatic symptoms. The personal system addressed is most often the family but other inter- or intrapersonal systems (e.g., ego parts, victim-perpetrator dyads) can also be the target of the intervention.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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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

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes