Effect of Psychoeducation on Internalized Stigma and Anxiety in Patients Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy

THE EFFECT OF PSYCHOEDUCATION PROGRAM APPLIED TO PATIENTS RECEIVING ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY ON PATIENTS' INTERNALIZED STIGMA AND ANXIETY LEVELS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of a psychoeducational programme on internalised stigma and anxiety levels in patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The study aimed to determine whether the psychoeducational intervention reduces internalised stigma related to mental illness and improves anxiety outcomes compared to routine nursing care.

The primary questions addressed were:

Does the psychoeducational programme reduce internalised stigma in patients receiving ECT? Does the intervention decrease state and trait anxiety levels compared to routine care? Researchers compared a psychoeducational intervention group with a control group receiving routine nursing care to assess the effects of the programme on psychological outcomes.

Participants in the intervention group:

Received a six-session psychoeducational programme delivered individually over six weeks Completed pre-test and post-test assessments using standardized measurement tools

Participants in the control group received routine psychiatric nursing care and completed the same assessment measures at equivalent time points.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Able to read and write in Turkish
• At least primary school graduate
• Diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder
• Inpatients in a psychiatric clinic
• Receiving or scheduled to receive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• No severe agitation or homicidal risk as determined by the treating psychiatrist
• Voluntary consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of organic mental disorders (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer's disease, delirium)
• Intellectual disability
• History of alcohol or substance dependence
• Not completing at least 4 ECT sessions during the treatment process