NCT06631911

Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Patients With Persistent Physical Symptoms in Routine Psychiatric Care: A Pilot Study

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Daniel Maroti · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) has emerged as a promising approach for addressing persistent physical symptoms (PPS). Investigating EAET within the context of routine psychiatric care is crucial for several reasons: Many patients with PPS experience significant distress and functional impairment, yet traditional medical treatments often fail to provide adequate relief. Integrating EAET into routine care could offer a valuable therapeutic option for this population. Preliminary studies suggest that EAET can lead to significant reductions in pain and other somatic symptoms. Investigating its effectiveness in routine care settings could enhance treatment outcomes for patients who have not responded to conventional therapies. There is often a disconnect between mental health and physical health treatment in routine care. Investigating EAET can help bridge this gap, fostering collaboration between mental health professionals and primary care providers to address the complexities of patients\' health issues.

Conditions

• Persistent Physical Symptoms (PPS)
• Functional Somatic Disorder
• Functional Somatic Syndromes
• Somatic Symptom Disorder (DSM-5)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET)	Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) is a manualized, short-term psychodynamic therapy that, in this instance, is delivered in a group format. The core of Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) involves helping individuals identify, understand, and express their emotions in a therapeutic setting. The therapy emphasizes the connection between unprocessed emotions and physical symptoms, encouraging participants to explore the emotional underpinnings of their distress. Through guided discussions, psychoeducation, and expressive exercises, participants learn to recognize patterns of emotional avoidance, develop self-compassion, and improve interpersonal communication. This process aims to reduce somatic symptoms and enhance overall emotional well-being by fostering a greater awareness of emotional experiences.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-11-01
• Primary completion: 2025-12-31
• Completion: 2025-12-31
• First posted: 2024-10-08
• Last updated: 2024-10-08