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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)NCT07641270

Effects of the Integrated Grief Therapy on Psychological Resilience, Post-Traumatic Growth, Traumatic Stress, and Grief Processes in Earthquake Survivors

A study testing Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) in people with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Grief (Traumatic Grief and Existential Grief), run by Sakarya University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) group program for adults affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquake in Türkiye. Many earthquake survivors experience psychological difficulties such as traumatic stress, grief, and reduced resilience after losing loved ones, homes, and a… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 45 years
What is being tested?
Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
190 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
12 Apr 2024to 30 Sep 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 45 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adults aged 18 to 45 years
  • Individuals who were present in Hatay, Türkiye during the 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes
  • Individuals directly affected by the earthquake
  • Ability to provide informed consent
  • Willingness to participate in group-based psychological intervention sessions

Who cannot join

  • Current diagnosis of a psychotic disorder or severe mental disorder
  • Severe cognitive impairment or neurological condition
  • Acute suicidal risk requiring immediate intervention or hospitalization
  • Currently receiving intensive psychiatric or psychological treatment
  • Substance use disorder in an acute or severe phase
  • Inability to commit to attending the full intervention program
  • Declined or withdrew informed consent

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site

  • Psychosocial Support and Grief Therapy Center

    Mersin

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Official title: Effects of the Integrated Grief Therapy on Earthquake Survivors

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) group program for adults affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquake in Türkiye. Many earthquake survivors experience psychological difficulties such as traumatic stress, grief, and reduced resilience after losing loved ones, homes, and a sense of safety. This study aims to determine whether a structured group-based therapy program can help improve psychological well-being and reduce distress.

A total of 190 adult participants who experienced the earthquake were included in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a waitlist control group. The experimental group participated in an 8-session Integrated Grief Therapy program delivered face-to-face by trained mental health professionals. The program included psychoeducation about grief, emotional expression, cognitive and behavioral coping strategies, and activities designed to support meaning-making and adaptation after loss. The control group continued to receive routine psychosocial support services available in the community but did not participate in the structured therapy during the study period.

Read more

All participants completed standardized psychological assessments before and after the intervention. These assessments measured psychological resilience, post-traumatic growth, grief-related difficulties, and traumatic stress symptoms.

The study aims to determine whether participants who receive the Integrated Grief Therapy program show greater improvements in resilience and post-traumatic growth, and greater reductions in traumatic stress and grief symptoms, compared to those who do not receive the intervention during the same period.

The findings from this study may help inform the development of effective, scalable mental health interventions for individuals affected by large-scale disasters.

Being tested
Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT)
Medical subject headings
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Prolonged Grief Disorder

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT)Behavioural

    Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) is a structured, 8-session group intervention developed to support individuals coping with loss after a disaster. The program integrates elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy, humanistic approaches, and grief-focused techniques. It includes psychoeducation about grief, identification and restructuring of maladaptive thoughts, emotional expression, interpersonal sharing, and meaning-making activities such as memory exercises and completion letters. The intervention aims to enhance psychological resilience, promote post-traumatic growth, and reduce traumatic stress and grief symptoms.

Study groups in NCT07641270
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT)ExperimentalParticipants receiving 8-session group-based Integrated Grief Therapy program
Receives: Behavioral: Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT)
Waitlist Control / Treatment as UsualNo interventionParticipants receiving routine psychosocial support only

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Psychological Resilience Score

    Psychological resilience will be assessed using the Psychological Resilience Scale for Adults. Total scores range from 33 to 165, with higher scores indicating greater psychological resilience.

    Measured: 8 week

Secondary outcomes (1)

  1. Depression Score

    Depression symptoms will be assessed using the Depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, a self-report instrument. The subscale consists of 7 items with total scores ranging from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater depression severity.

    Measured: 8 week

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Jun 2026
  2. Study start12 Apr 2024
  3. Primary completion1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: (1) an Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) intervention group receiving an 8-session face-to-face group therapy program, or (2) a waitlist control group receiving treatment as usual. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after the 8-week intervention period.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
190 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07641270
Sponsor's protocol ID
67000
Status last verified
Jun 2026
First submitted
11 Apr 2026
Last updated
11 Jun 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Group Therapy Intervention Plan Title of the intervention: Structured Group Therapy Program for Individuals Exposed to Trauma and Loss Purpose of the intervention: The purpose of this group therapy program is to reduce psychological distress among individuals who have experienced traumatic events and loss, provide a safe environment for emotional sharing, strengthen coping skills, enhance perceived social support, and improve overall psychosocial functioning. Target group: Adults experiencing psychological distress following earthquake exposure, displacement, bereavement, uncertainty, grief, and trauma-related experiences. A separate protocol may be developed for adolescents if needed. Mode of delivery: Face-to-face, closed-group format Group structure: Each group will consist of 8-12 participants. Each group will be facilitated by one group therapist and one co-facilitator/observer. Facilitators: Psychologists or mental health professionals trained in trauma, grief, crisis inter

Publications

  • Mikulincer M, Shaver PR. An attachment perspective on loss and grief. Curr Opin Psychol. 2022 Jun;45:101283. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.11.003. Epub 2021 Nov 26.

    PubMed 35008028

  • Marrone, M. (2014). Attachment and interaction: From Bowlby to current clinical theory and practice (2nd ed.). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

  • Marmarosh C. Spirituality, Security, Compassion, and Play: Innovative Ways Group Psychotherapy Addresses Human Suffering. Int J Group Psychother. 2024 Apr;74(2):85-97. doi: 10.1080/00207284.2024.2333680. Epub 2024 Apr 15.

    PubMed 38621147

  • Maccallum F, Bryant RA. Prolonged grief and attachment security: A latent class analysis. Psychiatry Res. 2018 Oct;268:297-302. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.07.038. Epub 2018 Jul 27.

    PubMed 30081202

  • Maass U, Hofmann L, Perlinger J, Wagner B. Effects of bereavement groups-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Death Stud. 2022;46(3):708-718. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1772410. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

    PubMed 32501773

  • Lotzin A, Morozova-Larina O, Paschenko S, Paetow A, Schratz L, Keller V, Krupelnytska L. War-related stressors and ICD-11 (complex) post-traumatic stress disorders in Ukrainian students living in Kyiv during the Russian-Ukrainian war. Psychiatry Res. 2023 Dec;330:115561. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115561. Epub 2023 Nov 2.

    PubMed 37956590

  • Lotz V, Marichez H, Baubet T. [Post-traumatic grief and the need for ritual in therapy]. Soins. 2023 Jan-Feb;68(872):47-50. doi: 10.1016/j.soin.2023.01.012. Epub 2023 Jan 30. French.

    PubMed 36894231

  • Liu Q, Zhu J, Zhang W. The efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention 3 for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in patients with PTSD: A meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials. Stress Health. 2022 Oct;38(4):626-636. doi: 10.1002/smi.3138. Epub 2022 Mar 9.

    PubMed 35253353

  • Kosminsky, P. S., & Jordan, J. R. (2016). Attachment-informed grief therapy: The clinician's guide to foundations and applications. Routledge.

  • Kaya EK, Halacli B, Guven G, Yildirim M, Seven AE, Gemcioglu E, Simsek M, Erdemir Sullu B, Yuksel RC, Kaynar AS, Esmaoglu A, Kilicaslan B, Akinci SB, Gundogan K, Ortac Ersoy E, Rello J, Topeli A; Turkish Intensive Care Studies-Network (TRICS-Net). Infections among adults hospitalized in intensive care after the 2023 earthquake in the southeastern part of Turkiye: a multi-center observational study. BMC Infect Dis. 2025 Jan 7;25(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s12879-024-10416-x.

    PubMed 39773106

  • Kaniasty, K., & Norris, F. H. (2004). Social support in the aftermath of disasters, catastrophes, and acts of terrorism: Altruistic, overwhelmed, uncertain, antagonistic, and patriotic communities. In F. H. Norris (Ed.), Bioterrorism: Psychological and public health interventions (pp. 200-229). Cambridge University Press.

  • Kamm, J. A. (1986). Grief and therapy: Two processes in interaction. The Psychotherapy Patient, 2(1), 59-64. https://doi.org/10.1300/J358v02n01_07

  • Jung HO, Han SW. Post-traumatic growth of people who have experienced earthquakes: Qualitative research systematic literature review. Front Psychiatry. 2023 Mar 2;13:1070681. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1070681. eCollection 2022.

    PubMed 36937000

  • Joseph, S., & Linley, P. A. (2005). Positive adjustment to threatening events: An organismic valuing theory of growth through adversity. Review of General Psychology, 9(3), 262- 280. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.9.3.262

  • Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. (2023). Turkey/Syria earthquakes: Internal displacement overview. Geneva: IDMC. https://www.internal-displacement.org/

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Integrated Grief Therapy (IGT) in people with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Grief (Traumatic Grief and Existential Grief), run by Sakarya University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Psychological Resilience Score (time frame: 8 week). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07641270, which also lists 57 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Jun 2026.

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