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This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of psychodrama group therapy (PGT) compared with supportive group therapy (SGT) for excoriation disorder (ED). Patients will be randomly allocated for either PGT or SGT. The Skin Picking Scale Revised (SPS-R) will be the primary outcome and emotional regulation measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) will be evaluated as a potential intermediator. The Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI); Beck Depression Scale (BDI); Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI), and the Social Adjustment Scale (EAS) will assess secondary outcomes.
Excoriation disorder (ED) is a diagnostic characterized by recurrent picking at one´s own skin, resulting in skin lesions, despite repeated attempts to stop the behavior that causes clinically significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning. The skin picking behavior is better accounted by physiological effects of a substance or better explained by symptoms of another mental disorder.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of psychodrama group therapy (PGT) compared with supportive group therapy (SGT).
Justification: The scientific studies on treatment for ED are scarce and all associated with behavioral therapy methods, which do not adequately consider underlying factors of ED, such as emotional dysregulation. There are also not reports of group treatment for ED.
Method: patients who meet criteria for ED according to DSM-5 will be selected . Patients in need of treatment for psychiatric comorbidities (such as anxiety and depression) will wait at least 4 weeks until pharmacological prescription is stable. The subjects will be randomly allocated to either PGT or SGT. The Skin Picking Scale Revised (SPS-R) will be the primary outcome and emotional regulation measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) will be evaluated as a potential intermediator. The Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI); Beck Depression Scale (BDI); Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI), and the Social Adjustment Scale (EAS) will assess secondary outcomes.
Hypotheses:
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychodrama Group Therapy (PGT) | Experimental | The PGT is a 15-session weekly program. Sessions last one and a half hours, conducted by two psychologists with more than ten years of experience. The process will be divided into three stages: the first (5 sessions) will be focused on the management of the individual's relationship challenges. The second stage (5 sessions) will focus on the association between the subject's management of their relationships and the excoriation disorder (ED) symptoms. The third (5 sessions) will focus on the development of new skills for the management of ED. Psychodramatic methods will be used throughout the process. |
|
| Supportive Group Therapy (SGT) | Active Comparator | The SGT is a 15-session weekly program. Sessions last one and a half hours, conducted by two psychologists with more than ten years of experience. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychodrama Group Therapy (PGT) | Behavioral | The psychotherapeutic focus is on the "here and now" aspect of the patient's relationships. Conflicts are acted out during the sessions, yielding intense emotional re-experience in a safe environment, which will bring further cognitive understanding of past distressful life experiences and hopefully new adaptive ways of expressing and dealing with the problem. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Skin Picking Scale Change | Self-report questionnaire | Baseline, week 5, week 10, week 15 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Change | Self-report questionnaire | Baseline, week 5, week 10, week 15. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| The Clinical Global Impression Scale Change | semi structured interview with psychiatrist | Baseline, week 15 (end of treatment.). |
| Beck Depression Scale Change | Self-report questionnaire |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital das ClÃnicas da faculdade de medicina da Universidade de São Paulo | São Paulo | 05403-000 | Brazil |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41026622 | Derived | Gulassa DCR, Amaral RS, Lopes Angelo D, Oliveira EC, de Abreu CN, Tavares H. Psychodrama Group Therapy for Excoriation Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial with a Bayesian Analysis. Int J Group Psychother. 2026 Apr;76(2):279-310. doi: 10.1080/00207284.2025.2551504. Epub 2025 Sep 30. |
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| Supportive Group Therapy (SGT) | Behavioral | SGT is a form of treatment in which the therapist maintains a therapeutic relationship and a working alliance based on reality, support, clarification, assistance in troubleshooting, strong leadership, partial gratification of dependency needs, legitimating independence, development of pleasurable activities and adequate rest, guidance and advice to deal with current problems. This approach uses techniques to help patients feel safe, accepted, protected, encouraged and not anxious. |
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| Baseline, week 15 (end of treatment.). |
| Beck Anxiety Scale Change | Self-report questionnaire | Baseline, week 15 (end of treatment.). |
| Social Adjustment Scale Change | Self-report questionnaire | Baseline, week 15 (end of treatment.). |